Jenisi Sedai breathed deeply as she studied herself in the mirror. Her long dark hair was pulled back, but otherwise left free to flow in cascading waves past her hips. Medium blue satin highlighted the darker blue fabric of her dress, a corsetted design that laced down the front with thin ribbon and accentuated the curve of her bust-line, her slender waist, and the flare of her hips. Smiling gently, she turned slightly to take in the effect. Today, she looked less the part of Dawn Falcon, and more the part of Aes Sedai, even moreso just that of a beautiful woman. Of course, a finely made dress, though not the most practical for such things, wouldn’t be a hindrance in a skirmish with her skills. Hopefully, her plans today wouldn’t end in a skirmish.

While she was approaching something just as serious, it was clear that a melee wasn’t it. For starters, the woman felt much more edgy than she did before a battle and was experiencing a much more intense adrenaline rush, her heart was pounding much more wildly, her senses were heightened as if she were embracing the Source and drawing an extreme amount of the Power. No, it wasn’t a battle she was approaching, but consequences from the outcome were just as serious and life-altering. Today, Jenisi Tucolleen, First Selector, the Dawn Falcon, was going to ask Aeric Kislan, squadleader of the Vron d’Sedai, Bowmaster, to be her Warder.

And she was terrified.

-------

Why is this such a daunting task for you? You rode through the Blight shielded, you faced down Ky Tsu, she berated herself crossly. You were a Hero of the Horn! You’ve been cycled through by the Wheel how many times now? But approaching a man has got you as nervous and giddy as a maiden at Bel Tine! You’ve been Bonded before. Four times. You’ve been Bonded to three people at once. Why in the Light is this any different?!

Because he’s different, a small voice answered. Because he stands to be an actual Warder and partner who will be constant and fight by your side. Because he’s already proven exactly the way he watches your back and you’ve seen how naturally you worked together as a pair. Because now that you’ve seen what a partnership can be, you don’t want to take on another mission without that.

Jenisi strode down the corridor looking every bit as confident and powerful as ever. Without being rude, she passed by those in her path who paused and curtsied or bowed, not ever really taking notice of who it was. Her focus was turned inward right now, the only words she heard were coming from within.

It’s because you’ve fallen for him, an even smaller voice added, making her pause in her tracks. It’s that which you don’t want to go without, even his admiration for you stops at that working partnership.

Shaking herself slightly, she broke free of the thought that gripped her and caused the temporary paralysis. It wasn’t the first time Jenisi had acknowledged that sentiment, but the way it factored into this equation intensified the uneasiness. Knowing that she didn’t want to Bond him just because of these feelings and wanting to be sure that she hadn’t manufactured these feelings just because she wanted to Bond him, she had already analyzed how it played into her decision to approach him in this, and she was satisfied with what she had found. Truly, the two had just happened to coincide, and if Aeric agreed to the Bond, then she would school herself to keep them separate. There wouldn’t be a way for her to mask those feelings without keeping the bond masked, but Jenisi would show him that they could have a strong partnership that needn’t focus on anything more intimate than the traditional Bond already was. The two of them had developed a friendship and trust already, they were even more formidable together than they were apart, and Jenisi would be satisfied in that. Together, they could face down the Dark One himself.

She turned down another corridor and pushed past a heavy wooden door that led to a stairwell that was generally only used by the White Tower’s serving people. Glancing both up and down, she headed up toward the roof of the Tower, passing a young girl carrying a tray toward the floor she just came from. Aeric had been in the practice yards for his morning training with the Vron and returned to his quarters to clean up per routine, the variance in the report she received was that he was last seen heading deep into the Tower and she knew he was speaking to the Hall later in the day. If he was seeking peace and clarity in Tar Valon, Jenisi knew where to find him

Caressing and swirling around her, the gentle breeze rustled her skirt slightly as she stepped across the roof toward the Bowmaster. She knew that he would have heard her approach without the movement of the fabric; even she had to make an effort to sneak up on him. However, she wondered if the pounding of her heart was as audible to him as everything else was. Closing the distance, she spoke softly to break further into his thoughts. “Aeric?”

“Jenisi...” Aeric said, staring out over the city. These meetings were always like energy to him, getting to study the leaders of the Tower in their element. Every time there seemed to be a new nuance revealed. The Squadleader knew it came from spending too many days in the Grey halls, but the alliances he’d made with the different Ajahs more than paid for the time invested. In many ways, those skills were invaluable to him...among others. Still, it took centering, which usually meant being alone. Jenisi’s question broke into the middle of mentally running through what he was going to say, but she was one of the few who could intrude here. It only took a half turn for the fancloth to reveal Aeric in a clean fresh cut suit of violet trimmed in silver as he took her in for the first time. “Jenisi Sedai,” Aeric repeated appreciatively, taking in the sight of her in all the glories of the First Selector. A smile teased at the corner of his lips as he drank in the sight and then gave her a short nod of the head that everyone knew was one of Aeric’s bows. “How may the Vron protect the Blue Ajah today?” It was formal, but usually the greeting he gave everyone. After that, anything was fair game, depending on the relationship...and she was dazzling today.

His usual greeting, a formality and typical, was not an encouragement for the personal nature of the question she was about to ask him. However, it was his usual greeting of everyone. “It’s not the Blues I’m approaching you about today, Aeric. Not directly, anyway. This involves one Blue in particular. This one, as a matter of fact.” A small smile played across her lips.
Aeric’s face instantly brightened, thoughts of the upcoming inquisition stepping back to the corners of his mind at the possibility of working alongside Jenisi - or being alongside her for that matter. She had fast become a trusted friend as the world grew darker, and even took the edge off of the more mundane things they’d had to do together.

“I will see to it personally, Jenisi,” he said. In fact, none of the other Vron had been assigned to the Selector since she came to the Vron. It wouldn’t have been proper - or Aeric’s preference. Jenisi had only the best, and none of the other Vron were going to interfere with him having fun while getting paid for it.

“Well, I would hope so, considering the nature of my request, Aeric.” She couldn’t help but smile now. No one else would be able to do this for him. The smile soon faded, though. “Aeric...” How would she word this? She had played it over and over in her mind and never settled on it, finding herself dissatisfied with every turn of phrase. “Since the day we met in my office, I have noticed in you a kindred spirit. Your motivations and ideals, the way you approach things, are so like my own and when they’re not, they complement my way of thinking.” Ugh. So formal. “I was able to trust you immediately and be open instead of playing Daes Dae’mar or just being an Aes Sedai.”

She paused, turning away for the barest moment to collect her thoughts again. “We have shared experiences and secrets, and really, we’ve shared adventure,” she chuckled. “You’ve saved my life, you’ve served me, you’ve supported me, and you’ve challenged me. In all of the Tower, you are the one person who I believe I can honestly, and safely, call ‘friend.’” Smiling, she took another step toward him, still wishing for more eloquence but knowing she was in the thick of it now.

“The way we’ve worked together under all kinds of conditions has come so naturally, and I have never experienced that before. In the cavern, we reacted instinctually to one another and thrived where others would have been killed. In training, I’m hard-pressed to best you and the truth of it is, I can’t as often as my pride would have liked in the beginning,” biting her lower lip, she laughed. “We both know that there may not be any others here who could do that. But you.. you make it look simple.” Her eyes narrowed at him playfully as she came back from nervousness into her own personality. Jenisi knew the effort they both made in training together was intense and never easily won, but his confidence and skill were always apparent. “Because of that, I know that if anybody can make up where I lack in battle, it’s you.”

The First Selector braced herself. “We make more than a great team. Together, we can stand against practically anything, just as we are now. But imagine...” She paused again, taking another approach. “You are more than a valuable ally. You are someone whose skill I am impressed by, whose leadership I respect, and whose character I trust beyond anyone I have ever known. And to add to all that, you are my friend and I can’t imagine going on another mission or fighting another battle without you, by my side, watching my back, and being my companion.” Deep breath... “Aeric Kislan, will you become my Warder?”

As Jenisi explained herself, Aeric clamped down more and more on the smile threatening to spread across his face, and it slipped through his ironclad grip by the time she asked the question he knew was coming before she was halfway done with the preamble. Even though some Warders at the Tower took the initiative to request a bonding, especially with a Brown or White, the taboo of asking for a bond didn’t allow much leeway otherwise. More than once, Aeric danced the line of that with how protective and involved he’d been with Jenisi, or in their rooftop conversation during his training. Now he just couldn’t wipe the smile away from his face. They made a great team, and more than that. Already the two of them anticipated the other’s movements. She was right on so many different levels, but she had seen it and chosen it instead of Aeric forcing it to happen.

“Jenisi,” Aeric started, feeling that rush of realizing what the moment would mean for the both of them clouding his mind and words. “I trust you as I trust no one else. I have, and I will again,” he said, stepping closer to take her by the arms. “I hoped you would ask me...have hoped for a long time. In fact...ever since I met you in your office that day you helped me for no other reason than because I asked.” His steel blue gaze fixed her as ever, but the depth in it flowed openly and strong as it focused on her as never before. “My bow is yours, and will be as long as I have breath in my body.”

Taking a knee before her, Aeric held her gaze long enough to remember it, and then bowed his braided head, waiting as the last moments of solitude blew past like the wind blowing his fancloth fully open.

Heart pounding, joy flooded through the Aes Sedai as Aeric answered her. Hearing that he had been wanting this as well was more than she had hoped for. Her mind raced as he knelt before her; here and now, their lives would be changed forever. She had always viewed them as equals, despite their standings in the White Tower and standard of the Gaidin’s service. Now, Jenisi wanted to see that partnership only increase, though she would be in a position to take advantage of his service to her. Her mind flitted to the Red Sisters who were newly taking Warders and their treatment of those men, as though they were servants or no better than pack animals, and she was momentarily filled with contempt and disgust. She valued this man immensely, he was a match to her and though he would be her Warder, and she would be his Aes Sedai, no weave would be able to change the fact that she saw him as a comrade and companion far more than she would ever see him as being in her service.

She embraced the Source and placed her hand gently on the top of his head, hoping for a moment that Aeric remembered to let his guard down and accept the saidar that she began to weave. Strand of Spirit after strand of Spirit, she made the Bonding weave with care. Slowly, she began layering it onto him and watched as it settled into him. Still channeling, she caressed her hand down the side of his face to get him to look up at her. She smiled softly, and began adding her own unique, but very important, touch to this Bonding.

The Sitter knelt before him and met his eye, the layers of weaving gently settling in one after the other. "Aeric Kislan, under the Light, and by my hope of salvation and rebirth, I take you as my Warder and companion and swear loyalty to our Bond for as long as it remains in the Light. I give you my trust, my service even as you serve me, and I promise to treat you with respect and compassion. I will hold and cherish this Bond until I perish, or until the day you ask for release. I choose you willingly, gladly, and in fullness, Aeric Gaidin, and am grateful for your choice to come to me in a spirit that is the same." Jenisi added another layer of the weave. "Take this strength and add it to your own, knowing also that what I have is yours. " Another layer. "Use this skill to sense the Shadow, be forewarned and prove to be its most deadly enemy." The final layer. "Feel my presence in your mind as a promise that as we ride together and fight side by side, I will never desert you. As you watch over me, so I will watch over you. With you I will face down the enemy at the gates or ride to Shayol Ghul itself, always in full confidence of our dedication. Thank you for being my Warder."

Layer after layer of the white strands settled into the Bowmaster, going deep to his core as Jenisi’s words rang in his ears. Aeric listened intently, never wanting to forget this moment as he felt the added strength surging into him. With the second part of the weave, the world felt a little different, as if there were things in the distance he’d never noticed before. The last, bringing her presence and emotions, settled into the back of his mind as if she’d just slipped in and sat down. The tension he’d felt already mingled with joy seemed to double itself, and yet wasn’t quite at the same place he’d been before. He frowned, confused as to picking out who’s emotion belonged to which of them. In some ways, it was a new system to understand, but in others...

Looking into her eyes, Aeric’s smile faded into a calm, steady look as he could feel her as never before. Hope and brave determination as his mind crossed over the things they could accomplish wheedled with the slightest tinge of fear. Would they be able to do everything they wanted, or were they hopeful fools? How many Aes Sedai and Warders had bonded, going out to do something like this, only to find that reality wasn’t as they thought? Seeing the fear for what it was, Aeric pushed it away. This was Jenisi, and however things went, he wanted to be with her...and now he was. Fondness radiated through him, growing in passion and fervor as their closeness brought more of that emotion to the front. His thoughts moved back to that day in her office, and the attraction she’d carried for him then - attraction that only deepened in that barn south of Aringil, and further as she took him to train at the manor. The Bowmaster nearly lost himself in the thought as he considered her ageless face before cold chills seized his spine and his eyes went wide. Something moved in his feelings that wasn’t his own, and before he realized it, Aeric moved back just a little where he was kneeling in cold fear, mind berating him at being so careless in the first few moments. “Jenisi...I...” he tried to begin, but the words failed him completely.

She blinked as she felt his presence in her mind, strong and warm, solid, and the rush that she had already been feeling grew until... Shock. Fear. Her eyes widened as Aeric backed away from her slightly. Had he felt it? He had to have felt it, and his reaction... Burn me, I should have masked the Bond first, maybe explained things... Jenisi paused, calming herself and trying to collect her thoughts. As she did, she realized that there was more to the sensations in her mind that were becoming revealed as her own shock faded away. It was as if her feelings for him were echoing there, resonating, but that wasn’t-

Jenisi looked up at him searchingly, finally grasping where Aeric’s reaction had come from and what he was trying to say. It wasn’t her emotion that he was trying to beg off from, it was his own; he hadn’t recognized it from her yet. Hope sprang anew within her and she smiled at her Warder softly. “Aeric, stop. Close your eyes. Feel.”

That’s all I can do right now, Aeric grumbled to himself, suddenly feeling like he was seasick on the deck of a storm-laden ship. This is exactly what I’m trying not to feel. I don’t want this to ruin...

Pausing as he still seemed to fumble with the newfound connection, the Bowmaster finally stopped struggling with it and just tried to do what Jenisi said. The fear reemerged, mingled with a slight bit of shame at what she might think about him accepting the bond with these feelings, but they were still there, burning and unflickering as a flamespurt that just wouldn’t die back down. It overwhelmed everything else as he couldn’t help but focus on it.

“Go beyond your own emotion, Aeric. Explore the Bond in your mind,” she urged gently. He would learn with time how to really navigate her presence there, but this crash course was important, especially as she could feel what was coming from him right now. It took everything she had not to just tell him, or show him in another way- she had wondered for some time what it might be like- but she wanted him to feel the truth of it on his own. Jenisi let her own care for him swell, not holding it back at all any longer so it would be even more tangible. She bit her lip as she focused on him, wondering if the golden, glowing presence in his mind wouldn’t burn if she let go completely. “That’s me there. What do you feel?”

The feeling grew in his mind, or part of it did. Something was out of balance, different, almost indistinguishable and yet not quite. As he seemed to watch it, the fervor of his love receded as confusion over what she wanted and what was going on seemed to win out. If he believed his feelings, he was totally confused and totally wanting at the same...time...

Except there was no way he could focus on two emotions that strongly at the same time.

The confusion disappeared again, replaced with a hesitant clarity, and yet the love still remained, tucked in the back of his mind just where he’d felt Jenisi...

“Light...” Aeric breathed, looking at Jenisi, searching for some kind of a sign that he was mistaken before he dove headlong into crossing that line between them. Hesitancy overlayed a renewal of that passion, and brought him back in. “You feel the same way.”

“Yes,” she said simply as she nodded, her breathing coming slightly raggedly as she acknowledged aloud what she never thought she would. She smiled at him hesitantly, slightly sheepish but also a bit giddy. “I do.”

Aeric’s smile returned just enough, and all the fear vanished from between them as he leaned forward...

Just then the wooden hatch to the roof burst into splinters from a weave of air, showering them with flying bits of wood. Surprise flashed through the bond before Aeric was turning, on his feet with a hand on both swords as a shawled head emerged. “What in the Light...” he growled, not realizing the swords were out already.

One moment, Jenisi’s heart was racing because what she had been imagining was happening and it was like she had captured what she had lost so very long ago, and the next, Jenisi’s heart was racing because the deadly fighter side of her had come to life. They were under attack and the Dawn Falcon was none too pleased about the timing. As Aeric had drawn his swords, Jenisi had fully embraced the swords and sprang into her fighting stance. Whatever was coming at them would know her wrath and- “Mother’s milk in a cup!”

The slightly wrinkled Brown Sister who emerged from the hatch blinked at the pair of them, not seeming to fully grasp that she had almost been obliterated. “This is a strange place for training,” she commented, cementing that idea.

“Marin, what in the Light are you doing up here breaking down doors?!” Jenisi didn’t bother to hold back on her tone this time. She usually didn’t pay mind to the Tower hierarchy, but in this case, she was much stronger, a Sitter, and just plain furious; this Sister was lucky the only thing she was catching from Jenisi was a tone. The Sitter reminded herself that the old Brown had always been odd on top of absent-minded, and in addition to that, she really hadn’t been at the White Tower very long; she was one of the Kin who had chosen to join their ranks. With a mind and quirks like that, it would be the next Age before Marin Sedai absorbed any sort of protocol.

With rheumy eyes, the Brown blinked at Jenisi. “Why, I just came to tell you... What was it I came to tell you?” The woman paused and stared into space. “Lunch. No, that’s not it, is it? No, no,” she chuckled, “that’s what I was going to do after I delivered this message. The kitchen just got some Tairen lamb and I love-” She looked at the Bonded pair. “Did you know that Tair was one of the major exporters of-”

“Marin,” Jenisi cut in. “Why did you come up here and break down the hatch?”

“Oh. That. Yes...Why?”

“Any time, Marin, we have to get to the Hall.”

“Exactly.”

“Exactly what, Marin?”

“You have to get to the Hall. The Sitting’s already started, dear. Somebody should have come up and told you that...” Marin chuckled and started talking, mostly to herself, about how it was a shame that good messengers couldn’t be found these days before seeming to prepare for a recollection on the history of messengers.

At her news, Jenisi and Aeric exchanged looks. Had they really lost track of the time? It seemed like only moments had passed. She grimaced at him and nodded, they would have to get back to their...talk later. When he returned her nod, they turned together and strode past Marin, leaving her there to talk to herself.

They took the stairs quickly, only slowing when somebody else was present in the stairwell, and then moved as quickly through the corridors to the Hall of the Tower as they could without breaking into a run. As they reached the chamber doors, Jenisi halted, took a deep breath and smoothed down her dress. Looking to Aeric, she reached over to fix his collar and smiled at him as she did so, reveling even there in the feeling of him being right there in her mind. Another silent exchange punctuated with a nod, and the Warder pulled open the heavy wooden door, holding it open for his Aes Sedai. Jenisi passed through and walked quietly to her seat, gracefully gesturing her apology for their late arrival.

“...but there must be some kind of difficulty if we have heard nothing from Tanchico in the past month,” one of the Grey Sitters continued without so much as missing a beat. “These are not the days when the Aes Sedai cannot move around the world at will, or even less so considering that we may travel at will. Something must be done.”

There was a slight murmur from the circle, but nothing further as the Grey took her seat again. Aeric took his place at the outside of the circle, watching and listening but otherwise being silent as anything. Few Warders were allowed to accompany their Aes Sedai in, given security reasons, but those that had truly earned the trust of the Tower stood guard by their Sister’s chair. At the moment, Aeric stayed in his original place, leaving it to Jenisi to reveal what she would in her own time. Again, it was part of that Grey habit, using everything to advantage when possible. The Bowmaster exchanged a nod with the two Warders in the room, knowing both very well from when he’d received lessons from them as a Siswai. He almost didn’t count the vote as the Sisters accepted the proposal, and then all eyes in the room turned to him.

“Aeric Gaidin,” one of the Whites began, arching an eyebrow. “You’ve finally decided to grace the Hall with your presence.”

“My apologies, Jenell Sedai. The Vron are always at the service of the Tower, even when the timing is inconvenient for us.”

“You find being summoned by the Hall an inconvenience?” Jenell smirked.

“I find it difficult to be in two places at once, Sedai, though I’m sure that when I discover the trick of it, every Warder and Aes Sedai will be beating down my door for the answer. Until then, I answer every summons the Aes Sedai brings to me as quickly as I may, and give my strength to make the Tower and the Sisters safe.” He looked around the room, focusing off of Jenell and toward the other Sisters in the circle. “How may the Vron serve the Hall?”

“Yes, please, Jenell,” Cairi, one of the Reds in Aeric’s earshot muttered under her breath. “Leave him alone so we can get through this.” Aeric fought off his own amusement, sharing it instead with Jenisi alone as he looked at her and then continued. The slight curiosity and almost tension as Jenell put the question to him almost felt like his own emotions. He was going to have to get used to this.

Jenisi caught the Red’s comment as well and smiled. “In this case, let me speak for his delay. Aeric Gaidin was with me, Jenell. I had just finished Bonding him when Marin literally burst through the door. Perhaps next time you can send a messenger who won’t get distracted along the way so your message arrives on time?” Her tone was honey laced with forkroot, aiming to cut Jenell off from her source of self-righteousness.

The White raised an eyebrow. “If you choose to bond another Warder, Jenisi, that is your prerogative,” she said. “Perhaps the next might wait until after the morning’s business is concluded.” Getting the last word seemed enough for the White, and she just sat back, letting things go as they would.

“Since coming to the Tower, Aeric Gaidin, you have formed an alliance with every Ajah that the Vron had not had with us before,” the Grey Sister who had spoken earlier began. “Is this not so?”

“It is, Beia Sedai,” Aeric nodded. “I did not wish any Sister who could be helped to fall through the cracks because the Vron were unaware of someone who might seek our aid, either at the start of a trip, or further into it.”

“Alliances have power, as you well know,” Beia said, letting her short, Cairheninn gaze produce the point she wanted in Aeric’s mind. She knew just how much time Aeric had spent learning under the Greys while he protected them. “With your actions, the Vron’d’Sedai have achieved an unprecedented unity of the eyes and ears of the Ajahs.”

“Not formally, though, nor in a way to share things given in confidence,” Aeric clarified. “Merely as a means of protecting the lives of the Sisters as we approach Tar’mon Gai’don. If our efforts save the lives of even one Sister, Accepted or even Novice to stand at the last battle, we will have given them the chance to do what we cannot.” From the fire that burned in his eyes, it was clear that Aeric believed they must.

“Indeed,” Beia continued. “What the Hall has wondered as reports of this network came together is what safeguards the Vron’d’Sedai have put into place to ensure these things will not be misused.

“So far there is an agreement between myself and the liaisons, and information their Ajah chooses to pass to me,” Aeric said. “As far as an outside source verifying what is done, the more people that are brought into the circle, the more risks of exposure. So, the safeguard for the information is keeping it to myself. Aside from the Liaisons, the Hall and the Amyrlin,” he said with a nod in her direction, “the world is no wiser to this possible unity of information than before it existed.”

“What is the point of this Sitting, Beia?” Jenisi had finally had enough of the ludicrous lack of reason to be here. She really hadn’t understood the reason for the Hall to meet in the first place, but because she was in the Tower today there was no way that she would pass. Somebody had to make sure common sense had a voice at these things. “The Gaidin gained the acceptance of the Ajahs in sharing this. None of us were forced to agree.”

“But by doing so, we may have created something very dangerous for the Tower,” Beia replied. “Not now, and not because of Aeric Gaidin. While the Vron have had a difficult history of leadership, the Greys supported his request. We are hesitant for the entire eyes and ears of the Tower to be united in one place. It has been tried and been a point of contention before, both in the past, and in the recent past. It is too much power for one person to hold, no matter how well-intentioned or honorable they may be.”

“Someone has to be able to see all the moving parts,” Cairie said again, looking up from where she was holding her head. It was clear that the Red Sitter had one of her migraines coming on again, and from the look in her eye, she’d had about enough of it. Standing to her feet, the Andoran looked at Beia directly. “The Vron’d’Sedai has the Red’s entire trust and backing in this matter, and if we can trust a man and a Warder to do these things, then anyone in this hall can.” She gave Aeric a look that said not to screw it up as she took her seat.

There was a low murmur as far as a Red being the one to lead the charge for the Vron, given their history. For the hall, it was probably the closest to an uproar they’d have without direct violence. Jenisi remained seated, her tone and power giving her firm speech authority. She was pleased, and slightly surprised, that Cairie had spoken out in support first. Having just Bonded Aeric, she didn’t want that to appear the reason she was supporting this. Still the pointlessness of this Sitting was grating at her nerves. Some women would call a Sitting just to discuss the lack of proper tea. “Let me state the obvious to say that he has the Blue’s as well. Aeric Gaidin and the Vron under his command have proven themselves time and again in service to the White Tower. This effort, among others, has not only had a unifying effect but has increased morale for both the Aes Sedai and the Gaidin. Time and again, they have risked their lives in the Tower’s service and some of those lives have been lost. Despite the...difficult history of leadership,” she paused and gave Beia a look that thanked her so kindly for her polite turn of phrase, “the Vron have proven loyal and trustworthy, and Aeric has proven to be more than a capable leader. The sheer fact he was able to organize this should have us wondering if he isn’t Ta’veren. Unless there is a need for unproductive rhetoric or diatribe that only further hammering away at this can fulfill, I suggest we cut to the chase here, Beia. Is there a proposal the Grey Ajah wishes to make or some issue the Hall needs to vote on? I think most of us have other duties to attend to as opposed to combing back over what each of us has already thought over and agreed to.”

“It is a simple question of what happens if things go wrong,” Beia said patiently. “None of the Ajahs were agreeing to a joint eyes and ears when the Squadleader approached them. If something goes wrong, how do we keep our networks from being compromised? How do we protect the men and women serving us in this manner? The lives of those helping us here are not to be cut to the chase. They are worth our deliberation.”

“If there is a plan of action you would suggest, Beia Sedai,” Aeric offered, “I will do my best to consider it and meet the concerns of your Ajah.”

“Our concerns lie with becoming blind altogether, and we were hoping a deliberation about these things would reveal an answer. Currently, the only way the Greys see around this danger is for all the Ajahs to operate independently as we have done in the past. That way if one group fails, six remain.” She sighed. “The reality is that though more links pool our power, they also put our eggs in the same basket, and create another target if anyone outside this room finds out the Vron’s connections in all of this. So no, at this time we merely sought the insight of our Sisters, which is part of leading to a solution that may be voted on or not.”

“...let me through!” a man’s rough voice shouted from outside the doors. The next moment, they opened, and the wide-eyed look of a Warder with tattered, bloody fancloth gripped all of them as Jacen Pirilli, one of the Blue Warders, strode into the hall. “She is still alive! I know it!”

The other two Warders stepped forward, wary but seeing no threat in his eyes. Aeric followed. “Jacen, this is the Hall,” he whispered, hoping it would be enough to control the man. “What is it?”

“Danae and the others were taken. I would have fought, but the light-blasted girl panicked and pulled me back to Tar Valon with her,” he said, turning to glare at an Aes Sedai in a blue shawl with a look of guilt on a face that had yet taken the ageless mark.

“I think...” the Amrylin finally announced, rising to her feet. The entire Hall rose with her. “...we had best settle the problems before us instead of fighting ghosts that are not yet here. Jenisi, if you and the others need any help, it is here for you.”

Jenisi nodded her thanks to the Amyrlin and left her seat, gathering up Jacen and Gia and ushering them from the Hall, knowing that Aeric would follow behind. She would have preferred to hear the news in full then and there, but privacy beyond a warding was necessary at that point. Quickly, she led them back to her office, letting Aeric close the door behind him and setting a ward against eavesdropping. “Now, Jacen, please give us the details of the situation, but make haste,” she said, not unkindly. She doubted the Warder would linger in this if his Aes Sedai were at stake; in fact, she was surprised he hadn’t dashed out already to pursue her.

“You know about the trollocs we found in the Black Hills, much further south than anyone had thought,” Jacen began. “You were there when Danae, Gia and Keosain asked to go clear them out and find why they were there. Something’s gone horribly wrong. There was something there that was different, something wielding the One Power. The Aes Sedai thought they could take it on, but we were separated in the middle of the battle, and it wasn’t going well for us at all. Danae’s not dead, but Jenisi...” His normally steadfast face looked pale. “They’re hurting her. If I go in, I’ll just get us both killed. We have to do something before they kill Danae. I don’t know about Keosain or Dre. We got separated in the fighting.”

Jenisi nodded, her face painted with genuine concern for her sisters, their Warders, and the pained Warder standing before her. Turning to Gia who stood back toward the corner, she asked, “Did you get to see who was wielding the One Power?”

“N-no, Jenisi Sedai,” the young Blue stammered. “I didn’t see much of...It was all happening so fast, and we got separated. I...he’s right, Jenisi Sedai, I panicked.” Gia hung her head in shame.

“Battles can be chaotic, and that was your first, but as an Aes Sedai you must do your best to keep a clear head. That’s what the trial for the shawl is to prove. You’re not ready to be out of the Tower handling things like that, Gia, but some of that fault lies with us. You will remain behind while we go after the others. Clean up, get a good meal, and try to get some rest tonight. Tomorrow morning you will begin training with the Vron,” Jenisi lifted her eyes to Aeric, who nodded his consent. The young Sister gasped softly. “I will send another Sister to take you through some concentration and weaving exercises while they’re in the thick of things, but most of the time you will be training with them. The Last Battle is coming, Gia, and we all need to be prepared,” as she spoke the last, her head was down and she was hurriedly scratching onto a scrap of paper. “Gather up these Sisters on your way out.”

Curtsying, Gia murmured, “Yes, Jenisi Sedai,” then quickly and quietly left the room.

“Now,” Jenisi had already turned back to Aeric and Jacen, “we will have to go after them. Jacen, I need you to answer any additional questions Aeric Gaidin may have for you, and then go nourish yourself.” The man started to open his mouth to protest the delay, but the First Selector cut him off. “I wouldn’t want to take the time if it were my bondmate, either, Jacen, but if you’re going to be any good to her you have to keep body and soul together. I’m not telling you to make it leisurely, just ample enough to replenish what you’ve used and then return here. We will be leaving out as soon as we’ve gathered what we need.” The Warder nodded his consent and turned to go, and Jenisi caught the eye of her own Warder. Her Warder. Even in the midst of all of this the idea still took her aback slightly and gave her a giddy rush. Something like this just made her all the more glad that he was hers. She waited for Aeric to return, going over things in her mind while he talked to Jacen and saw him off.

Managing Warders was never an easy situation, but those with broken or trying bonds needed extra care. In this situation, the best thing for Jacen was work, so Aeric set him a few things to check along the way, but also gave him some shortcuts for food and such. If a Warder felt he was being delayed without reason, he’d go it alone. Clapping the other man on the back, Aeric let him go, and then turned back to Jenisi, watching everyone else leave. “This will haunt Gia for the rest of her life,” he murmured.

“It may,” she quietly agreed, “but it is a lesson she needs to learn. Coming for help was not unwise, and I cannot even blame her for panicking- I think, had I been as untested in life as she had been and faced with that, I would have been fighting that urge myself; however, the problem is in the way she acted in her panic. Her reaction wasn’t to get help, it was to run away. Gia has talent and she’s always shown promise- to write off her response would be to diminish that promise. There would be no reason to grow, nor a catalyst for growth.” Jenisi stared in the direction that the young Blue had gone for a moment. “Still, normally in a situation like this I’d be overseeing this personally, to make sure she was strengthened, not shattered. With the present circumstances, I cannot be here to do that, and I hope I don’t regret my choice for a stand-in.”

tbcb: Aeric

The emotions in the back of Aeric's mind radiated with a sense of annoyance against his focused concern and planning. At first, he just listened to Jenisi, trying to clamp down on the emotion, and not really sensing why it wasn't working. "So, we know there was a group of Trollocs, and they've proven too much for a group of three Aes Sedai with a Warder," he said, mentally pushing away the frustration of not diminishing the annoyance as he focused on doing his job. "If they are torturing her, she will likely not last long, and nor will Jacen's control." He paused. "The normal reaction of a bonded Warder whose Aes Sedai has been taken is to move heaven and earth to get back to her. The fact that he was willing to come to us first instead of forcing Gia to reopen a gateway implies that he thinks he'd be overmatched. In fact, he said as much," Aeric remembered as he made the connection. "This was obviously more than three Sisters could handle."

"Three regularly trained Sisters, yes. Not to diminish anything the Tower does by way of training, nor the capability of my own Ajah, but considering the rallying strength of the Shadow, I think it's clear that our previous efforts are lacking." Jenisi grimaced, knowing not every woman would be capable of what she had gone through; however, much like Gia was on her way to right now, much of the Tower could use similar training. "Honestly, Aeric, I'm disgusted with the outcome of this and 'reluctant' doesn't begin to describe the way I feel about taking out another batch of Aes Sedai who are lacking in the same ways these last were."

Pausing for a moment, she took a deep breath and steadied herself. "I'm being hard on them, I know that. You're right that this must have been a large threat if this Jacen came back here instead, but... We know what's coming, Aeric. Actually no, let me rephrase, we think we know what's coming but I have the suspicion that what we think isn't the half of it. We can't afford to be soft and unprepared. That's something we have to make a priority, but unfortunately, later. Right now, we have two goals, rescue and reconnaissance, with a hopeful third of rooting out this cell and obliterating it."

Sitting back in her chair, she thought over the situation. "I don't want an overlarge group, it will draw too much attention and there's the possibility of chaos from a group not used to working together in a battle scenario. I prefer well-trained, synchronized teams and squads when I can have them. Actually," she corrected herself with a wry grin, "I prefer handling it myself with a partner, but it would be prudent to have more with the two of us than Jacen. Your men are well-trained, and there must be a couple with solid Aes Sedai. I'd like you to assemble the party, Aeric, or at least a list to select from. And quickly," she smiled softly, easing the demand from her voice as she looked up at him, remembering she wasn't just First Selector here, "we haven't much time."

"Most of the Vron are out on assignment," Aeric mused, turning to think of who would be useful for this task. "Your brother is with a delegation of Greys in Andor, the twins are in Tear protecting a Yellow, Cirynne is away with Ewrin and the majority of what I have in house aren't Warders yet." Since connecting with the different Ajahs' eyes and ears, the Vron'd'Sedai had come into higher demand. It seemed there was always a cost for information, one way or another. "I'll see what I can do. If you're not busy, Brandwyn is in Caemlyn with a delegation to the Rose Throne. We could use his help. I'll send two Manshima to your quarters in five minutes to replace him."

Their eyes met for an instant, and then Aeric turned and headed for the door. Of all the times he needed the full compliment of the Vron, but pulling Brandwyn away would be the most he could do on that front. All of the other situations were life-threatening in some way, and two Aes Sedai could fend for themselves in political circles.

Stepping out of the Tower, Aeric headed for the Vron barracks with a sharp step and focus of worrying about the Blues written on his features. Even with his training minimizing the tells, Aeric noticed that the crowd in the training grounds seemed to part for him as if his dark thoughts had come to life. "Dela, Varden!" he barked as he passed the two of them stepping out of the Barracks for a practice session. "Get your gear and be in my office in two minutes. Move!"

Not waiting for the response from the yard, Aeric stepped into his office and closed the door behind him. Even as he headed up the stairs to his apartment above, the Squadleader stripped the violet coat and fine undershirt, and draped them over the chair in his rooms. He was just into putting something more appropriate for this kind of venture on when there was a knock at the door below. "Enter and close it behind you," Aeric shouted from above, still working as he was strapping on a gauntlet.

"We're here, sir," Varden's distinct tones carried up to Aeric.

"Good," Aeric answered, and a few moments later headed down the stairs. Instead of the violet suit he'd worn before the Hall, Aeric's fancloth hid the suit of dark blue armor he'd found in Far Madding. Every line seemed well-hidden, and something told the Warder that on this mission, he would need it. One glance over the two Vron, and Aeric saw that they were indeed ready. "Jenisi Sedai is expecting you in her office in the Blue Halls in two minutes. She'll be taking you to Caemlyn to relieve Brandwyn on his mission with the Greys. Speak of this to no one but Jenisi Sedai or Brandwyn. Now run."

The two didn't need to be told twice before the space in Aeric's office was empty. It was a good fit. Dela and Varden needed some real experience, and they'd seen enough of the world to not be swept away by Grey schemes before he could get back to them. Now, he just had to figure out who else to bring that might have a trustworthy Aes Sedai. Part of him wanted to reach out to one of the Greens for that militaristic discipline Jenisi was wanting. As far as the Vron went, the ranks were pretty thin at the moment.

It was the voice at the door clearing its throat that brought Aeric back to his office. "Excuse me, Squadleader, but I couldn't help notice the activity," the voice continued.

Looking in the doorway, and then down about halfway, Aeric laid eyes on the voice's owner, and one of the recruits to the Vron'd'Sedai after Aeric had returned from hunting the Ravens. The short man looked more Cairhieninn than like he was from the Two Rivers, but the accent was spot on. The bald, stout man gave his real name on the paperwork as Devone Helfern, but then asked that everyone call him by his nickname. "Kev, yes..." Aeric said, stopping in the midst of everything else. "I'm afraid I can't slow down to discuss it."

"Of course," the short man agreed as Aeric started strapping on his bowblades. "I've just run into Jacen and was able to talk him out of heading to Gia Sedai's quarters to send him to rescue Danae," he said, stepping more into the office and showing he was ready to leave. "Jacen's a good friend, sir, and I'd like to help him if I can."

Aeric stopped for the second time in his preparations, looking at the short man. Even though Kev hadn't spent much time at the Tower, Aeric knew him briefly from his time running protection for caravans. The short man was famous around the Barracks for getting people to underestimate him and then blow them away with his strength. "You're still rather new to the Vron, Kev," Aeric observed.

"But we both know I've been in scrapes like where you're headed," Kev argued. "You'll need all the help you can get, and you'll want someone who might not be noticed as easily. That's me," he said, putting a hand on his blade. "You've seen me handle my own in the yard. Let me show you what I can do against a real enemy."

Finishing strapping on the rest of his gear, Aeric slid the chaje into its sheath and then narrowed his gaze at Kev before deciding. "Tell the stablehands to bring Seren and Shadowdancer to the traveling grounds, and then do what you can to help keep Jacen in line. I'll meet you there in a few minutes. If Jenisi Sedai appears with Brandwyn, tell her I'm on my way..."

Aeric turned back from picking up the second chaje dagger, and found he was talking to the air. "...there. Okay."

At that instant, he felt something change, as if suddenly the feeling of Jenisi suddenly swung far to the west. He'd heard about this before with his Vron, but seeing and hearing were nothing to the experience. Jenisi was now in Caemlyn. He'd bet the Treasure on it.

Closing the office door behind him, Aeric took off at a swift step deeper into the Barracks. "Coren?" he called, heading for the rooms of the young warder that was quickly becoming the one Aeric usually left in charge while he was gone. This time, he was coming with them, and his Aes Sedai as well, if it could be managed.

"You won't find him there, Aeric," Calwe, the old armorer, answered as he passed Aeric in the hall. "Coren had a Green whisk him away not an hour ago, while you were in the Hall. Something about an emergency."

"When isn't there one?" Aeric smiled disappointedly. It seemed like the Vron were bringing a paltry contribution beyond Jenisi's original plan of just going as a pair, but the need created the orders. Turning on his heel, the Bowmaster headed back up the hall to see if there was any of the other Vron available, but doubt began creeping in with each step. Somehow he could feel that they'd have Brandwyn and Kev, but otherwise they were going into this without any of the Vron's Aes Sedai.

No sooner had Aeric left for his own quarters and Jenisi had changed into something more suited for the occasion, when there was a knock at the door. Jenisi opened it to find two manshima who saluted before one introduced them both.

"Varden," he gestured to himself, "and Dela, Jenisi Sedai. Aeric sent us."

Nodding to them, she glanced around her quarters and exited the room, closing the door tightly behind her and leading them down the hall toward the stables. "Very good. Thank you for your haste." The Sitter ran a mental check of the travel bags she kept with her horse, the habit of always keeping them freshly supplied serving her well once again. "We'll gather your mounts and Travel to Caemlyn."

Her mind was moving quickly, but command and control underlined every thought. There was rarely such a thing as a leisurely planned mission for the Dawn Falcon, and in such a case, things often felt the slightest bit wrong. Gathering horses and moving to the Travelling grounds to open a Gateway was a brief process, and once again, she was thankful for preparedness- not her own this time, but the expediency Aeric trained into his squad. Shortly, they were closing in on the fine palace outbuilding where the Greys had taken residence.

The door was opened by a small, quiet serving woman after two raps, and Jenisi strode by her with a mere nod. Glancing from side to side, her gaze found empty room after empty room until she finally reached a large sitting room on the right side of the hall. At the far end of the room was a matching set of carved wooden doors, closed tightly but still not solid enough to cut off the cadence of feminine voices in deep discussion that flowed through. Her eyes narrowed as she contemplated having to interrupt whatever was going on behind those doors, or worse, having to avoid getting sucked into whatever was going on behind those doors, just to acquire Brandwyn for their purposes. As she entered the sitting room, a figure sprawled across an armchair opposite the doors came into her periphery.

Out of reflex, her eyebrow arched at her brother's treatment of his post, but she was much too focused on the task at hand to comment in any form. The man sat up, giving her a familiar look that meant he was about to open his mouth, but she cut him off.

"You. Here. Now."

"Light, what was Kislan thinking sending me here with that pair of stone-faced gargoyles?" Brandwyn muttered. "'Good to take on various kinds of missions,' he said. 'Never know when this might come in handy,' he says. 'It'll really stretch you.'" Brandwyn buried himself face-first in the pillowy wing of the chair. "The next time I see him, I'll stretch him...or something." Insomnia was one thing, but insomnia after being forced to stay up all night was torture and the cawing of those Grey crows was a nightmare on top of it. "Never knew you could have nightmares when you couldn't sleep..."

Footsteps in the room made him lift his head to see what only punctuated his misery. His sister stood in the doorway, eyebrow arched with the same amused disapproval, and he knew what had to be coming. The lectures were always coming, and he didn't understand why. It wasn't like he was anything less than the model Vron at all times. Well, at most times. Okay, well, at least he tried to make himself useful. And what did he get to show for it? His fearless leader sentenced him to death by boredom, and not far from the Black Tower, no less! Through the haze he tried to formulate something, anything, that would head off the inevitable from Jenisi, but she beat him to it.

"You. Here. Now."

The three simple words took him aback, and he blinked at her trying to process. This wasn't the diatribe he'd been expecting, and a part of him wanted to say something, anything. Light, don't push it, man! She's breaking you out of prison!

Leaping to his feet, he rushed to her side, but the part that was very much him had to have its say. As Brandwyn headed for the hall, he paused just long enough to kiss her and dashed past, hoping to avoid repurcussion. The concussive whap! of Air on the back of his head put an end to that hope, but all he could do was chuckle. He was free!

Jenisi led Brandwyn back to the Traveling grounds, briefing him as they gathered his belongings and his horse. Out of gratitude for his parole, he remained blessedly quiet, only speaking to ask questions on details. In her mind, she could feel Aeric's presence, could sense him in the direction of Tar Valon, and read the way he was focused so keenly on something; just as he always seemed to be outwardly, the bond gave proof. The Dawn Falcon, too, was focused on the mission at hand, but fleeting behind that focus was regret that this was what had become of the day. She was concerned for the Sisters captured, filled with a honed desire for justice, and certainly wanting to remedy each aspect of this trouble. However, those just channeled into her determination. Her regret was of a softer nature: this was not how she would have chosen to spend the day with her newly bonded Warder, especially after the bond's revelations to the two of them. The culmination had been so blightedly disrupted, and while there was no question of her priorities needing to be reorganized, the reality was that any hope of what might have come after the meeting of the Hall was now delayed indefinitely. Light-blinded Brown!

Opening the Gateway into Tar Valon gave the Blue the strangest sensation. She could feel her Warder over eight hundred miles away and the tug to close that distance, but there he stood just over an arm's length away, and relief was coming over her even as she still felt the beginning of missing him. Aeric's mouth was drawn and his gaze distant as all the things that made him an exceptional leader and partner worked in smooth unison, his mind, she presumed, on the details of the forthcoming mission. It took a small effort not to chide herself for the wanderings of her own thoughts, if only a portion, but through her own journey she had learned how important it was that she allow herself those emotions, to accept them and build them into her strength. Ky Tsu had not made her iron like himself, through him and all the rest, she had become cuendillar. Besides, her mind quipped, as a woman she was allowed, and had the knack for, thinking of more than one thing at once.

As the Gateway snapped shut behind them, closing out the view of the palace courtyard, Jenisi crossed over to her bondmate. Her beautiful features were determined Aes Sedai serenity, all but her eyes. Her eyes glowed with brilliant warmth, and did so only for him. "Aeric Gaidin," the faintest whisper of a smile blew across her lips and was gone; this was her Gaidin, "Brandwyn has been briefed and I believe we are ready to go. Have you gathered your men?"