Bonding
Okay, because this was such a long and involved post, with more than one part, I have split it into the three that it was! So, here they are. You can either read right down from here, or skip forward! Talon's posts are in black, and Eladari's are in Green. Enjoy!
Warder Wandering the Tower - our first official meeting
A Night Out - the first couple posts between.
The Bloated Boar - our first "date"
Catching Up - the bonding
Warder Wandering the Tower
His training had been vigorous, and his limbs burned even through the Spring's carress. The cold of the winter weather did not help his cramping muscles, and he needed to stretch his legs and body. Not feeling like catching cold from the falling snow outside, the young Warder moved through the halls.
He hadn't payed much attention to what went on in the Tower as an Initiate and Ward, but now he had time to relax and take in his surroundings. He watched young girls skittering around and giggling and began to feel old. "Old? I'm but twenty one years of age", he thought.
Shaking his head softly a grin melted softly upon his lips before he chuckled, long, smooth graceful strides taking him through the halls.
Soon he found himself a bit lost, and down a quiet hall that seemed to be the rooms of some of the Sedai. Biting his lip, he gnawed lightly upon it as he looked around and mumbled softly, "well, worst they can do is burst you into flames, Gaillard..." Walking over to one of the rooms he knocked firmly, and respectfully upon the door, as his eyes glanced about the halls, gettign a strange feeling of being lost in this place before turning back as the door opened...
Hearing a knock...
Eladari had been relaxing after a stressful day of teaching and study. She'd been thinking about wandering down to the Warder's Yard for a bit too, but hadn't yet gotten up the energy. So, there she was, lounging comfortably in a chair with a favourite book....
Suddenly she heard a knock at her door. Thinking it was just one of her Ajah-sisters, wanting some advice, or to talk, she simply called, "Come in!"
Hearing the door open, yet no sudden greeting, she turned in her chair, expecting to perhaps see a Novice. To her surprise a Warder was standing there!
Quickly gathering her wits, she put the book down and elegantly stood up, facing the (handsome) Warder.
"May I help you? I'm sorry, I wasn't expecting a visit such as this... my name is Eladari," she smiled at him, and waited for his response.
He heard a voice invite him in, but that wasn't exactly right of him. He was sure she wasn't expecting a man to be the one knocking.
She opened the door and looked shocked. He would have hid the smile that melted over his lips if the Spring hadn't been flooding through him still. He softly grinned as she spoke, then forced a near-straight face. "Hello, I'm Talon Gaillard, Gaidin, and I seem to be just a little lost", he said as he kept eye contact properly with her as the crisp iced blue flecks of his grey eyes shone softly in contrast to the sandy blonde hair that fell just before his brow.
"Lost?" asked Eladari, raising her eyebrows very slightly. What luck for this handsome lost Gaidin to knock on her door. But she was going to be nothing but hospitable, she wasn't wanting a Warder that badly, though she was thinking that this Talon Gaidin would be perfect to train her... Pushing the thoughts from her head, she pointed beyond the Gaidin.
"I'm really sorry for you, but you've found yourself in the Green Ajah's quarters. To get out as safely as possible, you either have to climb out a window or hide until nightfall. Of course, you can take the not-so-safe route down the corridor, a left turn at the end, and then down 15 flights of stairs to be back on the main floor. I'm sure you'd be capable of finding your way from there."
Eladari smiled at the Gaidin with a bit of a twinkle in her eye, implying that the first part was all in joking fun... though not a total lie. She'd seen the behaviour of some of her Ajah-sisters, and was occassionally appalled.
"Is there anything else I can help you with, while you're here?" she asked, feeling hospitable in her boredom.
His head dipped softly in a nod, causing his hair to sway softly, kissing his cheekbones as he spoke, "Aii, lost" he grinned softly at he, a Warder being lost, but the day had been far too tiring for anyone, even a Warder to have his normal wit about him.
His eyes, softened by tiredness, stayed ever gazing to hers properly as he stood before her, and at her words of his whereabouts he grinned inwardly, but allowed his deamenor to shift sudden.
A stricken look took his face as in a near trembling, terrified tone he mumbled, "The Greens??!! Light no!" He spun about sharply, looking over his shoulder as if expecting sudden attack by some horde of trollocs, his fingers twitching softly as his hand moved towards the hilt of his sword as it peered over his left shoulder, "Light have mercy on my pooor misguided soul, and blast that Vanyel for his training regiment!"...he let his act die abruptly as his lips split into a grin and he gave the young Sedai a playful wink to show he was merely teasing...well, to let her think that anyways, every Warder really was frightened of the Greens, they used to tell horror stories in the barracks at night about being chased by the Greens when at practice; no need to make the poor thing feel bad though, she was quite nice afterall.
"My thanks Eladari" he said as he laughed, a smooth rich almost purring sound as his eyes shined softly, "I must be hurrying back to the Barracks though...Master Vanyel told me if I woke him early again I'd be running twice as much and stadning twice as long still balancing with weights...so needless to say I've got to catch a nap, because I'm waking him up 4 hours earlier than today" he snickered to himself, Vanyel was going to learn that Talon would run himself to death before he showed anything less than full, haphazard commitment to training and learning to better himself, and anything set to try to restrain his hours of training would result in Talon aggressively attacking it.
"It was a pleasure meeting you though, and I'm in your debt for your help" he smiled softly, smoothly and with the same unrivaled grace of one on Cold Death Sings' way, he lightly lifted her hand as he bowed, gently brushing soft warm lips getnly against the back of her left hand in a kiss, "Light be with you!" He stepped back properly, letting her hand slide away from his fingertips and nearly vanished down the hall soundlessly on his way to catch a snack and a nap before awakening his lazy Gaidin teacher...
Gazing into the Gaidin's eyes, she noticed the weariness. But even among all the weariness, she could see... something. It seemed like he wanted to challenge the world, and prove that he was worthy.
Pushing her hair from her face, she smiled slightly at his reaction to her comment about her Ajah-sisters. She was pleased to see he had a good sense of humour. And she found that she liked the sound of his laugh, so full, and rich. There was even a purr to it, and she momentarily thought of him as a wild cat...
Eladari was momentarily disappointed that he couldn't stay, but understood that the life of a Gaidin could be strenuous, and nodded slightly, her eyes gleaming in the soft light from her room.
As he raised her hand and kissed it, a momentary feeling passed through her chest, an emotion she hadn't felt in many years... but nothing was betrayed on her face, or in her eyes, as was the way of Aes Sedai, and something in her silently cursed her now-instinctive actions.
Letting her hand drop gently, the Gaidin hurried off, and Eladari turned and closed her door. She sat back down in her chair and picked up the book again, but couldn't focus. One thought was coursing through her head.
She had never learned his name...
The next morning, as sunlight crept up over the city's form, Talon was busily moving through his warm-ups, stretching and jogging with those massive rocks bound to his form. He moved through each and every swod form multiple times in different sequences, did push-ups, and numerous other excercises to ready himself for the day, but strangely, Vanyel was a no-sow thusfar in the day. He looked around as he went through his training and noticed some people moving about the yards already
Eladari had had a restless sleep. So many unknown thoughts coursing through her head, about all the events going on around her. As the first rays of dawn touched her window sill, she gave up trying to sleep and opted to wander the Tower. She threw on a simple green dress, and hurried out into the corridors.
She wandered aimlessly through the halls, not concerned with where she was going. She nodded her head slightly to any early-rising novices or accepteds that passed, her unbrushed hair swinging into her face.
Eventually she found herself outside the walls, and heading towards the Warder's Yard. Getting there, she paused, looking at, yet not focusing on, the movements in the yard. There were a few early-rising Warders and Gaidin in the yard, exercising and going through their forms. Suddenly her eyes focused on one Gaidin in particular, it was the one who'd appeared lost at her door the previous night. Strangely, he was doing all his exercises with rocks bound to his sides.
Deciding not to move on, Eladari found a spot under a tree, and sat down, her eyes mesmerised by the movements of the Gaidin, and soon fell into a trance, simply watching the gracefulness of his body.
With Binding Stones clasped by thick leather straps to his forearms, biceps, shoulders, hips, quads, and calves, Gaillard went through some more forms, these ones with a staff, moving through Lion on the Hill, and through Parting the Silk as he flowed into Wind and Rain, smoothly jabbing thricely, once to the opponent's right inner hip, then to their left, and then upwards to the lethal area at the base center of the ribs, before moving into The river Undercuts the Bank Aiming the strike for throat level and drawing the staff sleightly above his head as his left leg glidesback, dropping him to one knee, and rbinging the reversal of teh same move out towards the opponent's hip. Leaping up and forward, feeling the rush of the Spring, the feeling of that roaring river flowing through him and pushing him ahead, he began a series of powerful overhead blows, from his right side to left, right left, then changing it up with another two rights before going back to left then right combos, in a move known as Striking the Spark.
Sweat rolled from his brow as fog came out from between his panting lips.He quickly spun the staff, rolling it over his arm and shoulder and tossing it to a Ward to take with him to to his Weapons Tier and let one hand guide his hair back away from his eyes as he climbed up onto the fence post again and drew his steel blade, standing upon one foot and beginning to roll the hilt over his hand and wrist, trying to keep balance and slowly make his way up through exchanging hands, and doing so quicker and quicker, before moving into actually tossing and flipping the blade to different handles and hands. His eyes shown with a sharp crispness in his ice blue tinged greys, and the spring's creative flow added to some different handles.
The stones were still awkward to him, but he had begun to become accustomed to their tugs and his movements were becoming more fluid and graceful, even with the bulky weight of those cursed stones.
With still no sign of Vanyel, and the mid-morning's sun beating down upon his shirt-less chest as it reflected from the ice and snow of the yards and onto his tanned torso. When would that lazy Gaidin show up...he probably wouldn't today..how typical of the "peacocked" Warder...
Dropping to front lean rest position, TG begun doing push-ups, one hand behind his back as he balanced, pushing his own, and all of the binding stone's weight as he exhaled smoothly with each thrust of his arm's muscles, not counting, for there was no need to know how many times he did them, simply to try to do more than he thought he could push himself to.
As Eladari slowly came out of her trance, she noticed that the sun was much higher up in the sky. Funny, it didn't feel like she'd been there that long. She gazed serenely towards the yard, brushing the odd strand of hair from her face. The Gaidin was still there, now doing an endless amount of push-ups.
After watching him for a few more minutes, she stood up. She was a little stiff from sitting down for a while, and stretched slightly to loosen her muscles. She ached to pick up one of the swords and practice, but knew that she didn't yet have the experience. Sighing, she moved over to the fence, closer to the yard, which was now much busier, with both Aes Sedai and Warders.
She leaned on the fence, her elbows resting on the top bar, and her chin cupped in her hands, hoping that the Gaidin would soon be done.
It had been another long hour of practice, and moving oncemore through Sword Forms, and TG was sure Vanyel wasn't going to show. So, he quickly took a wet cloth and geab to quickly wipe the grit and sweat from his face and chest before slipping his shirt on and walking towards the gates.
He tilted his head to the side softly as he saw the Sedai from last eve and smiled, nodding softly to her, "Good afternoon Eladari Sedai, I trust the day treats you well? I've not seen you about the yards before." He adjusted the thick leather belt straped across his chest, and get his hilt to settle more comfortably over his shoulder as he hopped up to sit on the railing of the fence before her.
Gazing up at the Gaidin's face, Eladari smiled softly.
"Thank you, Gaidin, I am well. No, I don't usually frequent the yards, but I wanted to come today," she looked into his blue-grey eyes, and suppressed a childish blush, she was beyond that, she told herself sternly. "I was looking for you, to make sure you'd made it back to your own quarters properly, without any attacks from outlandish Aes Sedai," she smiled at him, her eyes gleaming, "I was also curious about a Gaidin who could find himself so lost in the Tower," she smiled at him again, implying that no harm was meant from her comment. "And one more reason," she paused, gazing softly into his eyes, "May I have the honour of knowing your name?"
He smiled softly as he noticed the beginnings of her blush, and he turned his head softly a moment to seem to glance over at a Warder so she wouldn't feel mebarrassed at he having noticed it. Sedai always seemed to get into such a huff over their emotions.., "Void and Flamers" he thought to himself with a grin before looking back down to her soft eyes and laughing warmly at her words, "Aii, not even the One Power itself could have held me" with a teasng wink to show he simply jestedhe laughed. "OH", he laughed and rolled his eyes at the lost comment before grinning ocne more, "Aii, marked for life as the Warder who couldn't find his way out of the tower now" he laughed and grinned, "I seldom leave the barracks or training yards, save to the city...I try to keep away from most of the Sedai" he smiled softly and nodded at her words, "Of course..I am Talonae Vaerdeth Gaillard Gaidin, or Talon or Gaillard, or TG, Vaerdeth..whatever you wish to call me, the name of a young Warder isn't of much importance", he laughed, leaning back softly from the top of the railing as he tilted his head watching her.
Eladari rolled the name around on her tongue a little, testing out each syllable. She looked up into Talon's face, meeting his eyes.
"Thank you Talonae Vaerdeth Gaillard Gaidin. I truly feel honoured" She curtsied suddenly, feeling that it was suitable for the moment, and when she looked back up into his face, she saw a fleeting moment of surprise. No, she was not like many other Aes Sedai... but no one truly knew that.
She turned back to survey the yards, her elbows resting lightly on the top bar, and a slight, hidden smile rested on her lips.
He smiled softly as she tested out his name, lifting one brow quizically, and as she curtsied, he bowed his head softly from where he sat, debating a flourishing bow, but having been a bit surprised by her actions, it would have seemed lacking of grace and timing.
She was very curious, this sedai, and it teased his mind that she acted not like most of her sisters, both of ajah and as a whole.
he turned to glance at the yards as she watched them, noting a few new wards, but very few from their normal numbers, and he wondered where Vanyel was and when he would be getting around to training him further..."the lazy old coot", he chuckled, shaking his head at the MIA warder.
"Lazy old coot?" asked Eladari quizzically, "I do hope you're not referring to me!" she lifted a brow, then smiled grandly.
"Actually, I had better be heading back to the Tower," she sighed slightly, allowing him to see her misery at the thought, "I don't want to keep you any longer from your practice and studies, and I'm sure there are some Sisters out looking for me..." she rolled her eyes, then smiled again.
"It has been very nice talking with you, Talonae Gaidin," she gazed up into his eyes, then bowed her head slightly, "Until the next time we encounter one another, adue'."
"Oh!", laughing, he waved a hand as he shook his head, "No, I was speaking of my Gaidin trainer."
Grinning softly, he still couldn't believe that warder could be this lazy yet ask so much of him.
He nodded softly at the words of her departure and smiled gently as he replied, "well, I'm certain there are many waiting for you, and I'd hate to be hunted down for keeping you away from them" he grinned softly and winked. "I'm always in the yards each morning, so I'm sure we will see each other again, Light willing. Blessed be Eladari Sedai"
Eladari inclined her head gracefully.
"Yes, I am sure we will meet again," smiling softly, she met his eyes, "May the light bless you. Merry part, Talonae Gaidin."
With these final words she gathered her skirts and walked off, back towards the Tower, not daring to look back.
Smilign softly and nodding gently he watched her go and headed off to bathe to be ready for a night out on the town tonight. It was time to go hit an inn and have some high-times for the work-horse warder.
Up Back
A Night Out
Talon stepped out of the bathes and dried off quickly before wrapping his towel and taking his sword to his room. Closing the door he quickly moved over to the chest at the foot of his bunk and picked out the clothing he had just bought but weeks ago after becoming a Warder.
A shirt, rich, deep blue with silver enlays gracing it's high neck, a soft, simple, yet elegant accent to the fine, thin material that was fitted to his form. Snug about the shoulders but still easy enough to move with, it seemed to make them wider, perhaps larger than they really were, and tapered downwards smoothly, accenting his narrow waist. A black and silver belt broke up the navy color before leading into the dark black leather pants he wore, tighter at teh hips and tapering wider down towards the boots, along with soft leather boots. As always his sword was buckled with a cross-torso strap, it's hilt just above his shoulder, and his apparently soft leather eapulets accented his shoulders more, and attatched his cloak to them smoothly, to help keep the damp cold of winter's keen touch from he and his clothing. Unseen he carried a small katar within the right leg of his pants, and a dagger upon the left leg.
Taking a quick glance at himself in the mirror he ran his fingers through his hair and smoothed it softly out before leaving his room, and locking it, and with a smile walking outside of the barracks and towards Tar Valon to have a good time.
He passed the entrance to the White Tower, and looked up along it's height before turning his attention back to the path ahead of him, thoughts of a good time in his mind.
Eladari had had a fairly productive day, for all that she had been out most, no all of the morning! She'd gotten back up to her room to find that indeed, she was wanted, and got straight to her work. But now it was time for some fun.
Seeing as she hadn't been for quite a few months, Eladari decided to take a jaunt into town, and maybe stir up some fun in a tavern. She pulled on a rather attractive dark green dress, with a fairly low-cut neckline. The embroidery wasn't too expensive, so she wouldn't appear too out of place. She threw on a nice necklace, and stuffed her serpent ring in her pouch. She hadn't yet acquired the ageless face, and so could travel through crowds without being recognised as Aes Sedai. Finally, with one last glance in her mirror, she hurried out her door, and down through the halls.
Taking a slightly different route out, she walked past the Warder's yards, and gazed into them, then hurried on past and into Tar Valon.
The Bloated Boar
Talon made his way past the richest inns--never his style to be couped up with a bunch of rich snobby old farts that thought their money meant everything, or their birth for that matter. He was under the perception that hard work and determination made someone special. Artur Hawking took the world with a sword and the mind behind it, not with his birth or wealth.
So, he made his way to the working class side of town, past the marketplace and to a bar he had never visited, but always wanted to: The Bloated Boar.
He moved in through the stout, broad doors. Good workmanship, now there was something he liked, not richly adorned with inlays and glass, but firm, expensive without the flash. He nodded to a well dressed, but plain looking man at the door, obviously a guard of somekind, a short sword at his hip and a staff leaning against the wall behind him.
It was funny the sort of things he had been noticing lately, and it made him smile and shook his head softly. He took a final glance around outside, almost unconsciously to see if anyone followed him, or if anyone simply stood around, that might be watching the people entering, but saw none, so donning his most winning smile, he slipped inside.
Warm, carressing lights flickered along the wall and from the ceiling hung servicable, strong lanterns in a crackled finish that again showed wealth, but lacked the froo-froo touches of the creme-de-la-creme's taste. He liked it. There were numerous tables, some strung along the wall, others scattered to leave plenty of space between them, all the way up to a simple, but fairly large stage. Currently there was a woman singing a bit of a baudy song that had many laughing, and brought a grin to the youth's face as he moved towards the bar.
Tall stools rested with enough space between so that a large man could still have his elbow room without fighting for it, and Talon leaned upon the bar beside one with a smile.
"Good eve sir, I'd like an Altari Sour, if you would be so kind." He slipped a silver towards the man and turned with a smile to watch the many people laugh and drink and simply enjoy their lives.
After passing through the gates of the White Tower, Eladari meandered down the streets of Tar Valon, trying to decide exactly where to go. She wanted to go somewhere she was sure she wouldn't be recognized. She bi-passed the richer inns, knowing there would no doubt be a few Aes Sedai in them.
Then she remembered a time when she was an Accepted, and she and a couple other Accepteds had snuck out for an evening of fun at an Inn.... she couldn't quite recall the name. Biting her lip, she thought hard, and suddenly, it came to her: "The Bloated Boar"
Making her way through the marketplace on the working class side of town, and stopped in front of the inn. It seemed just as she had remembered, a well run place, with good drink, and a perfect atmosphere for the evening.
Pushing open the doors, and into the Inn. She noticed a man at the door, who seemed to be acting as a guard. Ignoring him, she turned towards the noisy Common room. A man was playing a pipe on the stage, and many people were singing along to the tune. Listening for a few moments, she realised that it was a great vulgar song, that she actually knew. Smiling, she made her way over to the Bar, and ordered a drink. Glancing around, she noticed the lost Gaidin. Slightly surprised, she made her way towards him.
"Good evenin' sir," she said, putting on a slightly lower-class accent, "What brings you here?" she winked at him, then raised the glass to her lips and downed part of it.
Talon grinned and nodded to the waitress as she handed him his glass and he laughed softly at the words of the man on stage. As he took a sip of his drink, he looked about the room again, noticing small things about different people, daggers, weapons, where their purses were kept, which women wore bodices and which wore no garters etc.
He smiled softly to himself and started walking over to an unoccupied table near the corner when he heard a familiar melodic voice, and he turned smoothly with a smile, "Good eve Mistress Eladari; I hope all is well? Not too much just looking for a spot of fun, and something to draw my attentions away from the pedantic drawls of the barracks pools and the tower", he smiled softly, as before his eyes always meeting hers gracefully wit a firmed but unhardened feel to them, "And what brings a Lady such as yourself to the Boar?"
He motioned to the table nearest them, not the one near the back he had previously chosen, but a good view of what went on in the bar, and easier to take a seat about as the inn grew more crowded.
Glancing quickly around the room, Eladari winked at a few various men, then smiled softly at Talon, as he led her to a table. As he pulled out a chair for her and gestured for her to sit, she gave him a persuasive look, smiling softly and indulgingly, and sat herself down. My, she thought to herself, this evening is just getting better and better...
Settling into the chair, she returned his gaze, meeting his eyes warmly. "I decided to get away from the Tower for an evening. I haven't been into Tar Valon for a long while, and it was time for a fun night out," she smiled at him again, a soft glow in her eyes, "I'd been to this very bar once on an escapade as an Accepted, and I just had to come back."
"But I am a little surprised to see you here," she continued, "I'd thought you'd have fallen into bed after such a days practice!" she looked at him with a slight twinkle in her eye, and took a drink from her glass.
Laughing softly, "I was planning to by the night's end, but training goes differently now than usual...I learn to dance and dress self and Sedai and etiquette and many things I would not have thought included in my Discipline."
"hmm..escapade eh?...". grinning softly grey eyes glint with a tint of iced blue as he smiles, wondering what kind of escapades the once accepted managed to get herself into as he took a sip of his drink and watched the bar carefully, but casually, an art the city survival class had allowed him to master.
"So what were you looking for in this eve, Eldari Sedai?--If I may be so bold?"
"Ah, this evening," she looked at him knowingly, then glanced surreptitiously around, "You really want to know what I'm looking for? Well, I suppose I'll tell you, though it's not of very good Aes Sedai character of me to..."
Glancing around again, she settled her skirts and took another drink from the glass.
"I," she said grandly, "am looking for absolutely nothing this evening, except a good time," with this statement, she grinned at him, and winked, then returned her attention to her glass.
Tilting his head softly to oneside as she spoke in a hushed tone, his lips split to a grin as he laughed quietly at her response.
"Ahh, I see; and what do you think of as a good time? Most sedai find books in their rooms to be a grand evening." he grinned wryly and took another drink of his sour and lifted his fingers softly from the table to signal a waitress to bring him another.
Eladari nodded her head slightly at the waitresses question about another drink, then returned her focus to Talon.
Smiling slightly, she gazed at him mischievously, "A good time most certainly does not involve books! At least there must be good... well," she gazed into her glass, "...moderately good drink, and," this time she lifted her gaze to Talon, "a man or two might be nice," she winked at him.
Smiling softly again, she continued, "Of course, a good evening also usually consists of dancing, and carousing and simply getting so drunk, and staying out so late, that you don't wake up for a day or two, but that doesn't happen very often, at least not in the life of a Sedai," She grinned at him, her warm brown eyes sparkling, "But I would like for it to happen more often...!"
"But what of you? Do you often get out? Or is it all work and no play for a Gaidin such as yourself?"
He laughed at her words softly and winked, "Aii, I know what you mean.", taking a sip, the soft 'clink'ing of his tongue ring's emtal hoop glancing against the metal mug reminded him he was hungry. Setting the mug down he smiled at her question.
"Myself? No, I'm never out. I train everyday in my Discipline, and then I train further on my own daily. This is the first time I've been to Tar Valon outside of a class environment in over a year now. Life for a WArder is a bit pedantic, consisting of training to ensure you're ready to protect your Sedai, and to ensure the safety of her life.", he smiled and nodded in her direction, "Afterall, you'd be much more comfortable with a Warder who you knew practiced much to be pressed in battle, than one you went drinking and dancing with daily, yes?"
Pushing a long gleaming brown piece of hair back from her face, Eladari smiled softly.
"Yes, I understand," she said softly, "A Warder is a most important protector." Eladari lowered her eyes, as if thinking of some past event, then raised them to meet his again, this time with a little more brightness to them. "Of course, a Warder is also a companion with which to have a little fun." She licked her lips lightly, dampening them. "I can already see that you know how to drink," she nodded her head towards his almost-empty glass.
Her eyes twinkling, she turned her head slightly, to view the few people dancing to the music. A space had been cleared among the tables, near where a man was now strumming a harp. Returning her gaze to him, and looking directly into his eyes, she spoke again, "But, dear Gaidin, do you know how to dance?"
Nodding softly at her words he smiled, "Very true, we're not all work, but that's why I try to get the work out of the way now, so that I only need practice to keep at my peak, and can enjoy travels when I protect Sedai." with a grin at the comment about the drink, he tossed the rest of the chilled drink back and smiled, resting the empty glass upon the table's top., "Aii, I can drink, handling it might be a bit different, but I can surely take it down!" he laughed and smiled then winced as she spoke of dancing.
"Well, yes, i can dance--though I'm no noble at court with it...but I can keep to the beat well enough..though I've never danced witha woman and well, with the size of my feet, I'd hate to step on your ankles" he laughed and winked but rose smoothly, tucking in his chair and offering his left hand palm upwards to her..."However if you'd care to take the risk, I suppose a dance would be quite lovely with such a lass as yourself" he smiled softly and guided her over to the dance floor where he made a soft bow and offered his hands to her, one high and one low and begun a dance befitting the scene, not one of flash or skill, but one of fun and with the feel of a commoner's earthy life, bouncing about the dance-floor in rhythmn to the beat of the drums, and letting the lute and winds guide them for turns and spins to a decidedly what on earth would be celtic beat as his lips melted to a smile softly as his eyes shined a soft mirthful iced blue over their solemn grey tones.
Taking his offered hand, Eladari let herself be led to the dance floor. She smiled softly as he bowed to her, and she curtsied lightly in return. Then, placing her hands in his, she led him lead her through the dance. The sound of her laugh as he swung her around the dance floor was one of pure joy. Eladari hadn't had this much fun in a long while. She smiled lightly at him, her eyes aglow with the spirit of the music.
But finally, as all things must, the song came to an end. As the music died, Eladari curtsied again to Talon, slightly off balance from the whirling dance. She grinned at him, taking his offered hand to be led back to their table for another drink.
"I must say, my dear Gaidin, you do not lack in the ability to dance. That is the best dance I have yet been led in," she smiled softly at him, still slightly out of breath, but with her eyes gleaming with spirit.
He smiled softly as they returned to the table and he took her seat out for her before sitting himself with a smile and a soft bowing of his head at her words, "Thank you Eladari, I'm glad to have been of pleasure to you."
Catching a waiter by the arm, he ordered a plate of food and smiled softly, inviting her to do the same.
"So what have you studied in the tower as a green?" he asked once the waiter had gone and a gleeman had taken stage and begun to spin a tale of a golden-eyed warder long lost.
Eladari gazed at the gleeman for a few instances, recognizing the tale. She'd heard it before, it seemed to be a popular one in Tar Valon.
Returning her attention to Talon, she spoke, "Well, my main focus of study has been the cultures of all the nations. I've learned about everything, from royalty to peasants, including the manner of dress, and speech and even the history of the nations. I've always thought that one day I'll be fighting far away from the Tower, and it would do well to be able to blend right in among the locals, and perhaps hide the fact that I'm Aes Sedai. I'm going to regret the day when my face assumes the ageless look." She looked down at the table, then raised her eyes to meet his. "Soon though, I hope to get out of the Tower, and put that knowledge to use."
A waiter came by at that moment, placing the food they'd ordered on the table. After a few minutes of comfortable silence, Eladari looked up at Talon. "And what of you? Are you studying towards any specific goal? Do you plan to bond in the near future, or enjoy the life of a free Gaidin?"
He smiled softly as he ate, and listened to her words. Washing down a bit of meat with his second sour, he smiled and replied, "I've studied almost the opposite of you, it seems", he laughed and went on, "I study survival of all types, weapons use of all types, but mostly train myself in mind and body. My strives are introverted, although now, apparently, my teacher is going to try and civilize me." he smiled again as he chuckled.
He took another drink and ran his finger softly around the lip of the mug as he spoke, looking into the depths of the chilled drink, "As for bonding, well I am a protector of the sedai, there is no freedom. I simply have not chosen one whom I believe needs me to be with her at all times, and so as of now, protect them all. But when a Sedai's goals are in line with mine, and the timing is right, I will bond; I do not like errors though, and so do not wish to run into anything...", he smiled softly again as he looked up, "which is hard, following my emotions as the Spring calls for. And what of you, and your thoughts of bonding?"
Taking a bite of the food, Eladari paused, thinking about bonding.
"Well," she started, "I too have patience to wait for the right bondmate. I've seen far too many sisters rush into bonds, right when they reach the shawl. But I look for someone who shares my interests, or if not, who can complement them. I'm also interested in a Warder who will be able to teach me how to fight with weapons, for those times when Saidar fails me. Of course, as Aes Sedai, I'd want loyalty, but I think I want companionship more, for Warder's have a duty to be loyal, but not to be good companions. And truly, the way some Aes Sedai, primarily the Browns (said in a very dry tone), order their Warders around, just disgusts me." She shook her head in personal disgust.
She looked at Talon, then smiled slightly, "I'm sorry... If you hadn't noticed yet, there's a fair bit of enmity in the Tower between the Greens and the Browns. I'm not so untoward to them, but I cannot stand the way they treat their Warders. I don't mind the books though, I myself am guilty of reading a fair bit. You actually caught me in a good book last night." She gave him a wry grin, thinking of the previous evening. "But I didn't mind," she said smiled at him softly, "It was a nice interruption."
He smiled softly and nodded, "We Warders are sometimes compared to dogs for Aes Sedai" he chuckled, "though any that tried to compare me to one would be sadly mistaken, any dog mistreated is liable to bite, and some are more dangerous than their owners." he laughed softly and smiled gently.
"Books have never been a strong point of mine..I learn with my hands and by experiencing, not by reading...everyone is different though, yes?" he smiled softly again and finished his sour off, softly licking over his lips to taste the lingering flavor and chill of the drink.
Eladari laughed lightly at his comment about a Warder's treatment. She believed his metaphor though, especially concerning Talon. She wouldn't want to see what would happen to anyone who mistreated this Gaidin. Smiling softly to herself, she took another sip of the wine she'd ordered. It had a good fruity flavour.
Glancing over to the stage, she noticed the gleeman had finished his tale, and some musicians were moving up on stage. One had a flute. Looking hungrily at the instrument, Eladari turned to Talon.
"Do you play any instruments? Or have your studies kept you too busy for that?" she winked at him, then turned back to look at the musicians who were tuning up.
Tilting his head softly to the side as he watched her drink, he lifted his left ahdn softly again in an almost imperceptible, graceful motion to teh waitress to bring him another drink, and turned back with an attentive smile to Eladari as she spoke, trying not to grin at her child in a candy store look and shaking his head softly, "no", he said, a laugh trembling through his voice, "I'm afraid I've never been graced with that sort of teaching...but I have a feeling you'd love to show the gleeman how it's done?" he smiled softly to her as his eyes shined softly in the deep rich lantern's light.
His drink came and he smiled softly lifting it smoothly in his right hand, cupped gently as if handling a gossamer orb, "Are you going to give it a try, or am I going to have to carry you over to the dance floor?", he smiled softly and winked a twinkling eye as he took a sip of his sour
Eladari smiled ravishingly at Talon. "Well, you may have to carry me. It's been a long while since I performed in front of a crowd, though," she glanced around the rowdy common room, "I don't think anyone would much notice if I made a few wrong notes." Gracefully standing up, with an encouraging smile from Talon, Eladari made her way through the tables, bending her slim hips to move past obstacles.
Arriving at the gleeman, she stepped up to him. "Excuse me, sir, but that is a lovely flute," she smiled at the gleeman, "Could I try a go on her? I have a fair bit of experience under my belt...." She smiled encouragingly at the other man, who was looking doubtfully at her. Finally, the gleeman placed the instrument in Eladari's hands. Running her hand over the keys, she raised the flute to her lips and blew a quiet note. The tone was crystal clear. Looking out through the crowd, she could see Talon watching her.
Quickly playing a scale, Eladari looked out over the crowds again, to see that she had attracted a few peoples attention. Trying not to think of the audience, Eladari took a quick breath, then launched into a familiar tune, "The Innkeeper's Daughter". It was a good and easy song, one of the first she'd learned. When finished, she played a few other familiar and quick ones. Taking a quick breather, she decided to calm things down a bit, and closing her eyes, recalled a song she had once written, many years ago... The notes came out perfectly, and in her head rang the words to the chorus,
If I could paint pictures in the sky, I'd paint a bird and let it fly, So high, so free and then I'd wish that it was me...
When the song was done, she lowered the flute from her lips, and gazed serenely out at the crowd. Some seemed captivated by her performance. Handing the flute back to the gleeman, and thanking him quietly, she hurried back to the table, blushing slightly at the appraising looks she received from some of the clients.
Back at their table, Eladari blushed a little more, at the look she received from Talon. Sitting down gracefully, she looked softly at him, waiting for his comment.
To the Sound of a Nightingale's Call
Talon smiled softly to her as she rose and smoothed her dress. Always the perfect peasant gentleman, he tried with fair mettle not to watch the hips of the lovely Sedai and took a cursory glance around teh crowd, in case anyone would dare laugh at a Sedai, his hand gently brushed beneath the table, close to the Katar that always rested strapped to his left leg.
His gaze returned to her slim form, and saw that the Gleeman seemed to be holding out--as was only natural as gleemen never let just anyone use their instruments, especially if they did not hear them play or teach them--bu Gaillard's steeled gaze bore down upon the gleeman's, as one brow raised softly, his hand gently motioning to Eldari and soon enough, as Talon took a sip of the goblet still held in his right hand. Soon enough the gleeman handed over the flute and moved to oneside to watch, and keep away from the Warder's dreaded gaze, now softened though, as he once more looked upon Eladari and smiled gently to her, making a light nod to her encouragingly.
He listened the soft smooth, crisp notes she made, as she played out her song, naming off the commmonly known song, yet tilting his head as he heard the last one, not recognizing it, though charmed with it nonetheless. He smiled as she returned, and noted the blush softly creeping through her cheeks and touching he tips of her cute lil ears and so as not to embarrass her waited til she returned, to softly, almost inaudibly clap gently for her and whisper as he rose, "You are quit the work of art, M'dear Sedai. Would you care for testing the cold in a walk?"
He rose setting coin upon the table to cover the tab and with a gentle bow so as not to call more attention to the beautifully blushing Sedai, offered his hand out to her.
Eladari accepted the proffered hand, and allowed the Gaidin to lead her from the Inn. Once outside, Eladari quickly threw on her dark green cloak, letting it fall naturally over her shoulders. Though the cold didn't often bother her, she did not want to seem out of place in the city, still wishing to conceal her identity. In addition, the dampness of the island sometimes could not be avoided.
Again taking Talon's hand, she let him lead her through the streets of the city. Glancing sideways at him, her hair falling into her face, she spoke softly, "So, my dear Gaidin, where are you leading us tonight?"
Out Into Winter's Embrace
Smiling softly as he led her out into the night, he threw his ragged brown cloak about his shoulders. Being a simple man on a low budget, he simply saw no need in wasting. It had no holes, simply was soiled and bloodstained from a few spars, but servicable, and kept his good clothing from dirt, and his body from the cold and wet environment.
He took her hand once more, carefully cupping her small hand in his an letting his thumb lightly carress along the length of the side of her hand and pinky as they walked, the soft sound of snow crunching beneath their feet and the soft moonlight reflecting off of the ice and snow lent a soft soothing tone to their walk through the city as some few people mvoed about the streets, some laughing, others hurrying with cold, but none coming close to the two as they walked.
Eladari's sweet soft voice bent the calming tones of the night's sounds as she spoke and Talon smiled softly and looked down to her eyes once more as he had all night and replied in a soft, almost hushed voice, "I lead no where, but follow where the night leads; do you have a place you'd like to go?", he said, as he walked pretty much beside her, but was sleightly behind her so that his shoulder was a bit behind hers protetively as his arm crossed his waist and held her hand softly.
Eladari considered his question a moment before replying, simply enjoying the caress of his hand holding hers. Hushed by the cold and the silence of Winter, Eladari spoke quietly, "One place that I find enchanting in the winter, especially at night, is the Ogier grove. Perhaps we can go there..." She let her sentence fade off, as the couple wandered through the streets, heading towards the side of the island where the majestic trees grew.
To the Ogier Grove
Smiling softly he kept his shoulder and chest softly against her back as he guided her wordlessly towards the grove, simply listening to the hushed tones of night and enjoying the feel of her small form before his own. At times his hand gently stopped his thumb's strokking carress to squeeze her hand with a wrm gentle firmness.
They soon came upon the grove, as all was quiet and Talon tread quietly upon the snow, taking in the scent of the snow-covered woods and enjoying the feeling of the night on many levels. He smiled lightly, beginning to feel his nose become tingly from the cold, and refrained from embracing teh Spring, letting his senses feel nature's pureness against him as the slowly moved through the grove idly and without goal save to savor the experience.
Silence and Enchantment
As they entered the grove, Eladari sensed the change in atmosphere, almost physical, the elation that grew in her spirit. It was almost akin to the sweetness of embracing the Source, though on a different level. All of her awareness was heightened.
Wandering slowly through the grove, Eladari couldn't help but noticed the closeness of their bodies, the way his seemed to protect hers. She had never yet been this close with a man, and there was comfort in it. She wondered what it would feel like to have such a man in the back of her head. Sighing softly she gazed serenely about her. A partial moon was just rising over and through the trees, occassionally blocked by a passing cloud. She could see a few brilliantly gleaming stars through the bare branches.
Breathing slowly, she tasted the air, the cold touching deeply to her lungs. She shivered, letting the cold reach her, for once not caring about being Aes Sedai. It had been an evening unlike others, where she didn't have to be like herself, nay, where she could be more like herself than ever.
Turning slowly, she faced Talon, looking up into his blue-grey eyes. Her voice was husky as she spoke, "Talon, this night, nay, this day has been wonderful. Thank you." Gazing up at him, she raised herself onto her toes, and brushed her lips softly against his...
The Grove
Smiling softly at her sigh, he watched a snow lynx trounce about through the snow as it's eyes glittered in the moonlight as it watched them a moment, before scurrying off as quickly as it came. A snowy white owl fluttered it's wings as it crooked it's head about, watching the grove with it's wise old eyes, and sparing little attention to the couple that slowly walked about beneath it's tree branch home.
As she shivered, he almost absently ran his palms softly up and down along the sides of her arms to warm her, as the smile upon his lips tugged softly a hair wider a moment as he enjoyed the time in the grove.
His hands softly fell away from her arms and shoulders as she turned slowly and he brought his gaze back down to hers with a soft smile. at her words, his mouth opened to tell her she need not thank him for an honour and pleasure for him, but she stretched up on her toes and softly brushed her lips to his. He felt the cooled soft flesh of her lips lightly bring tingles to his own as his softly moved against hers in a gentle, tugging kiss to her lower lip, feeling the warmth of their breath softly rising out against each other's chilled lips as one hand softly raised to gently carress his fingertips down along her temple and trailing down her cheek, his other gently resting upon her hip in their lips embrace, as his eyes softly closed and the flavor of her gentle kiss roused a soft purr from deep in his chest..
The soft caress of his fingertips on her face sent a wamr shiver down Eladari's spine. Softly breaking off her lips, she slowly opened her eyes, to gaze into his. Slight colour came into her cheeks, and she bowed her head a little, breaking the eye contact.
Feeling a gentle finger on her chin, she raised her face to look again into Talon's eyes. He gave her a gentle look, which she returned, though with a slight blush in her cheeks. Then kissing her gently, he dropped his hand. Eladari moved back into place beside him, his arm encircling her shoulders. They slowly walked on, in comfortable silence, with only the soft sound of the crush of snow beneath their feet.
Smiling softly he walked with her before softly humming, a gentle, slow melodic sound before his voice, a smooth rich tone gently rose, just above a whisper with an old song he remembered
"There lived a wife in Usher's Well.
"A wealthy wife was she,
"She had three stout and stalworth sons
"And sent them o'er the sea,
"They had not been been from Usher's Well
"A week but barely one
"When word came to this carlin wife
"That her three sons were gone.""I wish the wind may never cease
"Nor Flashes in the flood
" 'Till my three sons return to me
"In earthy flesh and blood.""It fell about the Martinmas
"The nights were long and dark,
"Three sons came home to Usher's Well
"Their hats were made of bark
"That neither grew in forest green
"Nor on any wooded rise
"But from the north side of the tree
"That grows Paradise.""Blow up the fire my merry merry maidens
"Bring the water from the well
"For all my house shall feed this night
"Since my three sons are well,
"My three sons are well.""Then up and crowed the blood red @#%$
"And up and crowed the grey
"The oldest to the youngest said
"It's time we were away
"For the @#%$ does crow and the day doth show
"And the channerin worm doth chide
"And we must go from Usher's Well
"To the gates of Paradise""I wish the wind may never cease
"Nor flashes in the flood
"Till my three sons return to me
"In earthy flesh and blood,
"In earthy flesh and blood."Softly he smiled, and sighed gently as they nered the edge of the grove, the tale of three young Gaidin and the fate that all Warders share setting better upon him this eve than ever before; something that almost startled the well-rooted Gaillard.
Another fact of his life now sworn fell upon the Warder's shoulder; one he had been stout against from early on in his training, and been quite outspoken against now changed. His hand softly trembled and his teeth softly gnawed upon the inner flesh of his lower lip as they walked, his eyes glancing downwards to the snowy, untrodden ground beside where they walk.
He had asked about the lass the eve before and had been told she packed for a long trip. He knew the speed the Sedai traveled and knew he'd have a spot of the wheel's turn to put his affairs in order with his trainer and he smiled lightly as a glow softly lifted in his eyes.
He turned to Eladari as they neared the Tower, his feral features still set upon by a happy smile, but with eyes shining with a mix of mischief and something more as he spoke quietly, "I heard of your trip to search for new novices...I hope the night has been fair for your last in the City for a time."
His tongue slipped forth to lightly wet his lips as he grinned at something and continued, "Though I'll not see you on the aisle again without a Warder, perhaps when you return we can do this again..." smiling softly he lifted her hand gently to his lips and softly brushed softly warmed flesh to hers before slipping back smoothly and with a smile upon his lips quickly made his way back to the barracks, knowing the next morn's training would be harsh with his lack of rest.
Eladari walked quietly, entranced by the soft sound of Talon's voice. It was a song she'd never heard before, and it was beautiful. She felt so comfortable walking beside him, and wished that she wasn't departing so soon. She wanted more of a chance to get to know this unusual Gaidin. But alas, the trip was ahead of her, nations upon nations to explore.
Nearing the Tower grounds, Talon stopped to face her. She smiled softly at him, nodding her head in acknowledgement. "Yes, I do leave tomorrow, and this evening has been wonderful," she spoke quietly, in hushed tones, but with a soft wonderment in her voice, "I would be honoured to do this again with you, Talon," she said, answering the second comment, though a little confused about the first... what did he mean he'll not see her without a Warder next? Pushing the strange comment away, she smiled again, as he softly kissed her hand. As he turned away from her, she noted a slight smile on his face and a spirit in his eyes, almost one of mischief and planning. But again, ignoring the strangeness, she too turned away, glancing one last time at Talon, then walking slowly back to the Tower. Her spirit felt higher for the evening, some of the weight lifted from her shoulders, yet an unknown sadness was descending. Eladari couldn't help but think that it would be many many moons before she would be back at the Tower... she could only hope that Talon would still be there too.
Up Back
Catching Up
It had been near one week since his walk through the Ogier Grove when he had chosen the aes sedai he would protect. He knew she needed a Warder with her on many levels. She was sheltered form life and she was someone that he would be valuable to--and he was fairly certain she could teach him some things he as of yet wasn't exactly the best at...like reading.
So he had taken some time in getting together his traveling supplies, and done mroe training before finally setting off from Tar Valon. He knew where the group was going, and he knew there was no way the sedai were going to go at a warder's pace. He knew catching up with them would be easy enough, as they were sedai, not traveling at a Warder's pace. He had two hroses he had aquired from the stables, as he knew they would be doing much traveling in many different climates. He of course, had taken several weapons, as he had to continue training, no matter what happened, and he was working with new forms and different weapons now, not just sword play.
It was a fairly unusual sight, he must have looked much like a peddler, making his way at such a pace across the lands, enjoying nature's winter hardships, sleeping in teh cold, as he blanketed his steeds, and practicing sword forms every night to keep him alert in the cold. Three days straight he had traveled, pausing only for the horses and to keep himself awake by practicing, and he had come to see Cairhein in the distance, and had found a small simple inn which he decided to stay the eve at.
The innkeep had been polite enough, considering he was dealing with a man in a loose cloak, with a solemn, perhaps frightening mask of blood-red with streaks of blue as tear-streaks to cover his face from the cold. He had slept well that night and bathed as well. Cairhein was just a another day away, and knowing sedai, he knew they'd be there for a few days, giving him a chance to easily find them.
He had arrived in Cairhein the next evening, and seen the long line. He was a Warder now, but he didn't take his place at the forefront of the line. He could wait. He was a protector, and these people couldn' handle the cold conditions as well as he, and deserved to be abck in their warm homes with their families, not out in the cold. A woman noticed his staying behind, an soon sparked up conversation with him, telling him what a nice young man he was not to take his place at the forefront like the group that had come in the day before. he smiled beneath his mask as he spoke to her and soon found out that they had headd off towards the northern section of the City. Bingo, aes sedai were easy to track..not that he needed the help...he knew he could with a copper bought piece of bread find out all the information he needed, right down to how each one was dressed, which ones limped and how many daggers the Warders carried with them.
He smiled, he always liked the streets and back alleys, so much information just floated about there, waiting for the pickings. It was long into dusk when he finally made his way through the gates and begun his search in earnest. He moved to the northern section of the city and soon spotted a young lad watching him carefully...not just a passing glance of someone surprised by looks, but an honest stare of thought and remembererance...he was a pigeon. Someone who kept information and sold it, the call was obvious.
Talon crooked a finger to the youth and rolled a coin smoothly over his knuckles and underneath his palm, repeating the action almost idly as he spoke, "I'm looking for a woman, long brown hair, of early to mid twenties, a sedai, trveling in a larg group. They would be finding a nice, and not active in, a place that's expensive and quiet and away from most traffic most likely. I'm sure you've seen her lad, and if you can give me which inn she stays at and the name of one who can tell me the room, two silver marks I'll give to you"
The boy listened and tried the typical holding out for more and talon shrugged, tossing teh coins in the air and catching them both smoothly in one grab before saying, "No matter, i know enough already, I can save the coin for myself." and turning to walk away.
"The Merchant's Rest!", the boy called as he scrambled forward after the warder. Talon smiled beneath his mask and tossed the two coins smoothly over his shoulders, knowing the boy would catch them as he moved off.
"Speak to Gherad!", he smiled as the boy's shuffling feet sounded on the cobblestones as he ran off no doubt to sell the information about the masked man with swords looking for a sedai.He made his way through the city, enjoying the snow falling over his new cloak. He found the inn soon enough and looked about outside it. He saw stableboys scurrying around and a bellhop out with them. That was the lad msot likely..so he walked towards the group and called out, "Gherad!" in a firm, almost soclding voice, the young ones looked over frowning, boviously confused, and obviously not Gherad. Talon's quick recovery and mask luckily hid his chagrin at making a fool of himself.
"I'm looking for gherad, where is he? Quickly now, it's bloody cold out here and I'll be damned if I have to wait while you dawdle around!", one boy seemed angry bout the treatment, and Gaillard smiled, as he liked someone who had fire in him, the other two however, did as he had guessed adn stuttering and pointing a finger towards the front, "At, at the desk sir"With a nod he walked around inside, and spotted a tubby man of about 40 years of age. Walking up to him, he asked questioningly, "Gherad?"
The man turned and smiled and in a lively voice replied, "That's me, and what can I do for you, sir Gaidin?" his eyes drifted over the sword's hilt and mask and Talon smiled at the fact it was hard to hide his calling.
"I'm looking for a lovely young lassie by the name of Eladari Sedai, it's a bit of a surprise for her, as I was to stay in Tar Valon and train, but I'm here now, and wish to surprise her. I was wondering if you knew what room she was in? A young lad out near Hopkin's Pub said you'd be able to help me?". The man nodded and smiled and had a knowing look look in his yes as he winked and nodded.
"Let me be checkin' my log and I'll let you know, lad.", he flipped through his papers and smiled and replied, "You didn't hear it from me, but the lady likes nature, and has a room with a nice balcony that has the best views, but the balcony door has trouble staying shut right.." he winked and Talon thanked him, and slipped outside, and around the back, glancing about at the few terraces and noting finally a balcony of comfortable space, overlooking the fountain and courtyard behind the Inn. That would be his ward's room, that would be it for certain. He looked about and saw no one coming, and took out a small knife, no biger then twice the length ofhis thumb and begun to ship smoothly at the ice between the inn's stone wall and begun to make his way up the terrace and onto the balcony. He took a moment to shake himself relatively free of the night's snow and moe inside the balcony doors with a smile. He looked around quietly as he closed the door and noted that she was not here yet, giving him a chance to find a spot a bit out of the way form the door's line of sight and take up place comfortably in a chair, sitting sideways in it and waiting......
Women!
Talon softly tapped his foot upon the stone floor's face as he waited; it had seemed like forever and still no sign of her! He had used the time to glance about the room, picking up certain details, and noticed a few candles strewn about the room, and her luggage off near the large canopied bed. He tried to embrace the Spring and let the hap py flow of excitemen that surged through his veins at this adventure and the travel thusfar feed his patience..of course, being more excited after embracing it than before, his patience did not grow in the slightest.
Curiousity of what he would find in the world, and what was in store for him bled through to curiousity about that luggage that sat tauntingly, just beside the bed. He watched it and it seemed to tease him, like his former playmates when they held something behind their backs and wouldn't let him see what it was so many years ago, just mocking and laughing and almost snickering at him that he didn't know what it was.
Well that did it! How rude! Tease him about not knowing something, well that inanimate object would be taught a lesson this time! Talon rose smoothly with a low soft growl and marched right over to the luggage, and slipped down to a crouch, unclasping the ties and opening up her travel packs and glancing through it. There were the usual feminine products, combs and brushes, jewelry and numerous dresses, yep, typical, he thought as he smiled.
Then his hand brushed something. Some sort of long, molded almost cylinderic object. He felt along it and felt some sort of strange head on it!
Frowning he withdrew his head, wondering what in the name of the Light that was. He reached in again and pulled it out. A rubber chicken??? What was an Aes sedai doing with a rubber chicken??...no, on second thought, he replaced everything as he had found it, re-tying the draws to her luggage with the same knots and tightness, and moving back to sit in the chair and ponder what kinds of things she would use a rubber chicken for, but then again, did he really want to know what Aes Sedai do with rubber chickens at night?....
So he waited mildly patiently..well, patiently for a Warder of the Spring anyways, and glanced around the room again as he waited, mumbling softly about women always taking so long, even though he ahd no reason to, he was, after all surprising her; that wasn't the point though, he told himself, the point was...well..the point was he hoped she hurried he was starting to get thirsty and the falling snow outside wasn't helping him stay awake...
Back at the Inn
Eladari had arrived back at "The Merchant's Rest", an Aspirant in tow. She felt elated about having found their first aspirant. And she'd even managed to convince Swaniana to leave the library. But now it was evening. The group had eaten their supper in the common room, discussing their new plans. And now, Eladari was about ready to fall into the nice comfy bed she knew awaited her. She walked up the stairs unhurriedly, carrying her cloak over her arm. She stepped into her room, shaking her hair loose from the braid it had been in. She laid the cloak on her bed, and shivered slightly. Turning towards the open balcony door, she jumped, her hands going wide with surprise, covering her mouth with her hand. A man with a mask on was sitting in a chair beside the door, looking at her. Overcoming her first shock, Eladari composed herself, noticing that there was a sword at his hip, and he had on a fancloak.
Finding the ability to speak, Eladari addressed the man, speaking in strong tones, "Sir Gaidin, who are you, and what are you doing in this room?" She gazed at him, a fire behind her eyes, yet also wondering why the eyes looking back at her from behind the mask seemed so familiar...
Talon sat, in a rare, but emotionless state, so different than his normal, ebulliant, energetic self, so vibrant life seemed dim about him. Now he sat, waiting as a stone waits for the wind's carress and the cloud's tears to wear it to nothingness, and watching the door for the green.
Near an hour had passed, and the chill had crept through his cloak, and behind his mask, the mix of pain and pleasure of the cold's stinging kiss helped him focus, and keep alert. He heard steps coming, light but not attempting to be quiet, and knew it was the one he waited for. He stayed, motionless, as there was no need to stand yet and frighten her. The door swung open and a sigh, most likely of relief flooded past her lips. She took but two steps and froze, her facial expressions melting to shock, concern..perhaps fear, for but a moment as shenoted the open window leading out onto the balcony.
She turned and saw him, her eyes widening as she saw the masked figure, and what a charming sight he msut have been, as he realized with a silent inward groan that he had left his mask on. Fire flashed through her eyes as she drew her slim form up to her fullest height and begun making demands. Having traveled far, Gaillard smiled beneath his mask and rose, not moving forward, but stretching softly, his cold muscles tightened, and crying out as he stretched them to his normal stance, a good three quarters of a foot taller than the top of her head and spoke as one hand removed the mask.
"You already know who I am Lass", he smiled softly, his face paled and nose reddened from the cold as he winked a grey-blue eye to her, "as for why I came, I came to help you gather what things you might need to be bound so that we may be off to perform the task at hand my dear Eladari, so hurry now, I've traveled a long way and am stiff with cold from waiting for you."
He smiled gently and proffered a hand towards her as he headed towards the door...
To be bound...
Eladari's composure melted, as she heard the voice behind the mask, and finally placed the eyes. "Talon," she whispered softly, her eyes glowing, "to be bound..." the realisation of what he'd said slowly sunk in, and her heart lifted, thinking of how he'd travelled there, just to find her, just to bond her.
Softly taking his proferred hand, she let him lead her out the door.
Smiling he took her hand, gently squeezing it and leading her out of the room, walking silently down the hallway and outside, giving a hidden wink to the man at the door of the Inn who had helped him, and moving outside into the cold, replacing his mask smoothly.
The cold nipped against them as they walked, but Talon did not notice it, making his way towards the frozen fountain near the quiet market square several blocks away. It's normally flowing beauty frozen over as the moonlight danced upon the hanging icicles, giving it another sense of wonder and beauty.
Turning her smoothly, removing his mask, and sliding it around behind the hood of his cloak, and sliding that down as well, allowing the snow to fall upon his golden lockes of hair as he looked down to her and spoke, "Eladari Menaka Sedai, I am Talonae Vaerdeth Gaillard Gaidin, protector, teacher, ally, companion, and more to you. Never again need you be alone, nor worry, neither shall I be a servant to you save in love, for I am not a servant, but a guide, an angel to keep you safe, to keep you warm, to keep you going. I do dedicate my life, my death, my spirit, and every ounce of my existence to you and your cause, and leave you in debt. I bind you to me, Eladari Sedai, bind you in debt to me, for every day I make you my life, and tell you now to tie yourself to me."
He waited, watching her, gently squeezing her hands and waiting for her to begin...
The Bonding
Eladari was in a daze, as she let Talon lead her out of the inn, and into the streets, finally stopping beside a frozen fountain in a quiet square. As he took off his mask, Eladari drank in his face, looking into his eyes, remembering all the emotions she'd felt only a couple weeks ago, before she'd left. She had only dreamed of being bound to him one day after her journeys were over, and had never believed her would follow her.
She stood, entranced by the evening, and enchanted by the soft touch of his hand, gently cupping hers. Eladari hadn't put her hood up, enjoying the softly falling snow, and the quiet of the night. There were very few people out, though the gleaming, flickering lights of hearth fires could be seen in many windows. It seemed to Eladari that it was just her and Talon in the whole of the city.
She smiled softly, a warm glow in her eyes, listening to Talon's soft voice speaking his words of binding, "I bind you to me, Eladari Sedai, bind you in debt to me, for every day I make you my life, and tell you now to tie yourself to me." At his last words, Eladari freed her hands from his, embracing the sourceand reached them out towards him, weaving the binding net of spirit, holding it above him.
"Talonae Vaerdeth Gaillard Gaidin, I am Eladari Menaka Sedai, companion, ally, teacher and protector," she started, modelling his vow, "I pledge myself to you, to honour and respect you, to listen to your guidance, and to accept your protection. I now bind us, Talon Gaidin. I am in your debt, and you are in mine. Together we are as one," she softly lowered the net of spirit over them, letting it settle. She looked deeply into his eyes, all of a sudden feeling more of his presence. He was there, in her mind. She smiled softly, and laid her hands in his. "I am yours," she whispered softly, and kissed his cheek.
heyyy! it tingles....
Talon smiled softly at her words, and waited patiently until he felt something touch him, touch his mind and send his mind tingling as if small bursts of lightening crackled off in his head. He could feel her there, with him, just before him. She leaned up and kissed his cheek and he lifted his hand to her, his fingers softly curling about her chin and drawing her up to him, gently pressing his lips to hers, soft supple flesh parting gntly and letting the warmth of his breath carress over her flesh, gnetly suckling upon them, tasting the sweet taste of her lips, feeling her breath roll over his half frozen lips. He could feel her happiness, and knew her eyes were closing as his already were. His hand softly slid upwards along her jaw and cheek, fingers lightly trembling against her as he teased the tip of his tongue lightly over her lips, feeling the rush, something stronger than the spring rush through him at the touch, feeling as if her soul was offered to his as they kissed. Her elation soared through him,lifting his heart bubbling through his body and making him inhale as his lips softly slid away form hers, his eyes fluttering open to look down to hers.
He knew what she was thinking, feeling..what she was about to say and smiled, softly pressing a finger to her lips, "Shh.." was all he said, taking her hand in his and leading her slowly back to the inn as he tried to grow used to the feeling of her inside him...
Eladari shivered with his touch, feeling all her feelings reciprocated in his mind. It was so odd, to feel him there, to know his thoughts, his feelings. She thrilled at the thought of him being there, forever, until death do them part.
She looked deeply into his eyes, conveying her thoughts. "Shh..." he said, as he took her hand and led her back through the quiet streets of Cairhien. It seemed to Eladari that Talon now encompassed her whole world, and she felt so safe, knowing he would always be there for her.They entered the common room of the Inn, and Eladari suppressed a blush as she met eyes with Swaniana, seeing the surprise there, and then the Sedai's look became a knowing one, a comprehension dawning on her face. Eladari smiled and nodded to the Sedai, then still holding Talon's hand, she led him up the stairs.
Entering her room, she smiled at Talon, and softly kissed him. Gazing into his blue-grey eyes, she felt the need to speak, though she knew he felt her words through the bond. Nevertheless, the words were somehow more... important. And so, smiling softly, she whispered, "I love you... and I'm honoured to be bound to you, Talon, I am yours forever"
Talon walked protectively beside Eladari, just sleightly behind her, his fingers entwined with hers as they entered the inn, wiping his boots off outside and following her lead towards her room, wondering who the Sedai was she seemed to be blushing at, but figured he'd find out soon enough from the respect that flowed through the bond in him.
They reached her room and he opened the door for her, following her guardingly within and smiling softly as she stretched up to him and closed her eyes, and he softly pressed his lips to hers, kissing her softly, slowly, a soft slow moan slipping through trembling lips as his fingers softly carressed along her cheeks in a chaste, but love-filled kiss.
She slipped back from him gently, smiling and gently carressing her hand over his cheek as she spoke, her eyes, a deep, rich, wholesome brown gazing into his as she spoke just above a whisper, "I love you... and I'm honoured to be bound to you, Talon, I am yours forever."
His lips softly melted with his heart as his eyes glazed with the warm fuzzyness that swelled through him from both the bond and his heart, and the feeling of his soul soaring as it had finally found it's mate, melting slowly to oneness as they stood together, whispering softly to each other in the moon and candle lit room.
"I love you Eladari, my Sedai... I am blessed of the Light to be able to have found one such as you, and I thank you, and the light, for giving me the final piece..the other half, of my life..."
Standing so near to him, all of Eladari's senses were hightened, more so than that night, not so long ago, in Tar Valon. For now she could feel him through the bond, and being so close made the bond more amazing. She smiled softly and sweetly at his words, her heart just one big melted lump. And every kiss sent a thrill down her back, as she felt his responses to it, so full of love. She felt like she was floating so high. The feelings flowing through her were so close to the feeling she received each and every time she embraced Saidar. She knew how to make the feelings complete... she smiled softly and tenderly at him, then embraced Saidar, and channeled out the lights...
The Becoming of One
His fingers lightly brushed down along her jawline as he looked longingly into her eyes, feeling his pulse race with hers as they kissed, feeling the echo of his wanton need to become one with his love, his Sedai within her heart; an echo that sent thrills of emotion through his body, lifting his heart and setting off bursts of tingles running upwards through his spine.
He saw almost a soft grin, or smile tug at her lips but for a moment as the lights mysteriously went out, and he felt her softly press against him, and he wondered if his heart was going to burst as it must have thudded out to Garen's Wall it seemed. His voice softly split the darkness as he felt them gently slipping against the soft thigh-high bed and down, "I love you Eladari...."
The moon hung low on the threads of the night, trying to fight the relentless day's coming as he awoke, feeling a soft, warm body curled up before his own, feeling his arms around her shoulder and middrift, and his body conformed to hers comfortably. She felt so good against him, her soft smooth flesh brushing his own as her chest lightly swelled from her rbeathing. The feeling of her happiness even through sleep birthed a smile to his face and he gently squeezed her, watching the early morning begin to yeild itself to the first rays of the sun's awakening; practice and training would wait this day, he was far too enthralled with his place below the bear skinned furr blanket, and the feel of his Sedai, his love, his lover, beside him...
The lark sings...
Eladari uncurled and stretched, yawning slightly, as sunshine shone through the curtains to alight on her eyelids. The magic of the night was quickly disappearing, and a new day was beginning. A wonderful new day. Smiling contentedly, Eladari rolled over in the bed, wondering for a minute where Talon had gone to. His warmth, his comfort, was nearby, though not right next to her. Searching through her mind, she figured that he must be down in the courtyard, practicing, for she could feel concentration flowing through the bond. She lay there for a few moments, her eyes half-closed, feeling him through the bond, and enjoying the feel, the knowledge of his love.
She stretched again, not wanting to leave from the comfort and warmth of the bed. She felt Talon's concentration change, and she could feel him moving closer. He must have felt her awaken... Smiling again, she curled up, and faced the door, just as it opened and he stepped into the room. He smiled at her, not saying a word, for none were needed with the bond. Coming over to the bed, he lay down and encircled her in his arms, Eladari snuggling closer to his warmth. She still couldn't believe how safe she felt with him there. And how deeply in love she was. It was a thread, a pure thread of gold that joined them heart to heart, soul to soul. And it had all happened so very fast, and so perfectly. Barely a moon had passed since their first meeting... and now they were joined as one.
Sighing peacefully, she curled herself right up with him, wishing that they could prolong the true start of day. Soon the inn would be bustling with noise, and already Eladari could smell breakfast being cooked in the kitchen. And she would be needed by her sisters, for they had supplies to get before they could start on the next leg of their journey. But this night, this wonderfully magical night, Eladari would remember for always. The snow, the cold, the stars, the moon, and Talon... her Gaidin, her love, her lover, beside her for always.
No, she would not let the day rouse her yet. If she could, she would stay there forever....
