Vala, walks over and pulls the man form Litheene and than looks over the woman who she is charged to protect.
" You alright Litheene?Can you see?" she asked as she looked at you in your burnt attire. Vala even though burnt too seems unphased by most of it unless she moved.
Yes, I think I'm alright. Thank you. Maintaining the ward, Litheene hurries to Jasmine, and weaves the form of five elements that she taught her.
Before Jasmine finishes regaining her senses, Litheene hurries on to the man on the ground. Motioning for her warders to be ready for anything, she forms another healing weave, this time using the regular form of healing.
litheene, as you approach the unknown man, you suddenly recognize him. It's jasper.
You kneel beside him and lay your weaves upon his body, only to have your weaves suddenly reject from him.
As her hands twist in your hair, and she playfully nips at your neck, she begins to asks questions.
Whats your name, handsome? What brings you to these parts?
"Shall we bring him back through the portal so that Egwene Sedai can aid him?"
" Something is greatly wrong with him Amorial, I don't know if he will be safe to travel. We can try though" Vala says as she cares little for her wounds and than looks at her stomach.
Flashes of light bring your attention from within the ward to the outside world.
High up, on the hills that you descended hours earlier, stand rows of men with torches. All wear white, with white shields, and white streamers. In the center of the group stands a large flag.
This flag is massive, easily 6 feet tall and 10 feet long. It is white, with a distinct golden sun upon its surface.
You quickly glance left and right, looking for an end to the line, but it continues out of sight.
Several men on horse back sit in the middle of this long column, this Army. One of them swings his blade wide around him in a circular motion, before pointing it forward. Small guidons move about, and moments later the column of men marches forward, straight for the forest that surrounds Salidar.
Amorial sighs, "I am thinking we should move him now regardless Friend Vala, he will feel much worse if these misguided fools get a hold of him again".
Amorial will move to pick Jasper up but will hold off touching him in case someone vehemently objects.
Litheene glances at Jasper in surprise, thinking fast of a way out.
It's a good idea Litheene decides as Amorial picks up Jasper. We can't stay here. Vala, please pick up this child that jumped on me as well, I want to know how he knew that we are coming, and there might be clues on his person.
Moving up to Jasmine, Litheene hands her the Angreal. I don't think I have time studying this location. You did. Are you well enough to open another gateway for us?
Jasmine have been staring in stunned silence but rouses herself when Litheene mentions a gateway. Taking the angreal she shakes herself to awareness and says Of course sister. Forgive my momentary lapse. We must warn the Amyrlin.
Turning, she opens a gateway back to Salidar and says Quickly now, I dare not keep it open long.
As her hands twist in your hair, and she playfully nips at your neck, she begins to asks questions.
Whats your name, handsome? What brings you to these parts?
Keelix attempts to shake the oh, so intriguing scent of her from his nose, and takes a step back, My name is Keelix. I am here following she who holds my bond.
" Yes those men mean to march on Salidar, Ryvin is there as are women and children. We must meet up and regroup with our compatriots and than see if we can either aid in the defense of Salidar or must make a needed retreat." Vala says as she pulls the Child from the ground and than pulls some of her cloak off and wraps the mans arms and legs. she than took his blade and left it in the pit as well as any other weapon he had. She than hoisted him on to his shoulder and nodded to Litheene.
" Okay lets go, We must hurry so we can start the hurried defense of Salidar, and possible retreat from Salidar as well.' Vala says going into soldier mode.
Litheene quickly dashes through the gateway behind her warders.
The moment they are back in Salidar, as other run for help, she motions to put Jasper on the ground, releases the source, and proceeds to quickly strip him, feeling for any potential terangreal that might have inhibited her healing.
If Litheene finds one, she will remove and hide it immediately, then embrace the source and heal Jasper.
Amorial is a step behind Litheene without running her over!
the woman purses her lips at being rebuffed. Holds your bond? Oh, you mean you are a warder? how quaint.
Putting her hands on her hips, she glances about the room, before finally looking at ryvin.
Hmmm...she is a pretty little thing. To bad she is asleep, otherwise we all could have had some pleasure together.
Laughing, she turns and walks out.
Stepping out through the portal that you created, see that you are within the same location that you left from, a little outside of town, as it was the easiest thing to do.
Jasmine comes through last and closes the gateway behind her. Handing the angreal back to Litheene she yells out to the nearest warder. I must speak with the Amyrlin at once! More quietly she says ...and send out scouts. There is an army of whitecloaks on their way here and we need to know when they will arrive and from which direction. Now go Gaidin!
Amorial, please take him, we must hurry. Litheene looks over Jasper, trying to decide how much time do they have.
As they move into the town, she looks around for any yellow sister, or potential healers. On the move, embracing the source, Litheene tries to send a small tendril of spirit to touch Jasper, trying to understand what's blocking her weaves.
Amorial's countenance is grim, "Try to keep up with me Litheene Sedai!"
Amorial moves swiftly (50' walking so at least 200' running!)through the camp directly to where Egwene Sedai performed her miracles on Ryvin. He bellows out for Egwene Sedai, to aid the squishy human dying in his arms.
Before departing, Litheene turns to Vala, refering the dead white cloak Please guard this body, we might need it. Amorial can lift Jasper easily by himself.
Litheene hurries after Amorial, lagging behind, and notifying sisters of the situation, asking for a healer capable of helping without using the one power.
Vala looks at the man and than walks over to sit the body down and out of the way. She stands there and draws her sword. She stood over him her blades tip resting in the ground as she followed Litheenes orders.
" Yes Litheene, hurry or Amorial will out pace you, and if you find Keelix...I..ah..." She let it drip and just stands there trying to be a stone, but tears crest her eyes. Worry goes through her bond.
The Gaidan nods at Jasmine
at once, Aes sedai he turns and sprints off, heading towards the white washed building.
Amorial rushes into the village, carrying Jasper like a child carrying a precious doll, his arms cradling him.
Litheene asks around for a healer, one capable of healing without the One power, and she is responded with laughter. A healer? without the one power? please, all know that everything can be healed with the one power, except for death.
Vala stands guard over the dead child, all but forgotten about in the mayhem.
Soon enough, Amorial, litheene, and Jasmine are brought in front of Egwene Sedai, Amrylin of the rebel white tower.
Her face looks angry, like a thundercloud hiding behind a mountain range, rumbling, echoing its fury out of sight, waiting to move its fury on.
What is it, Child? she asks, her voice a mere mummer, yet laced with annoyance.
Jasmine curtsies and says Mother, we were attacked by whitecloaks as soon as we arrived. There is an army, numbering in the several thousands, on their way here as we speak. I have dispatched several of the Gaidin to scout and report back. What worries me is that Whitecloaks would not attack a town of Aes Sedai directly unless they had some method of neutralizing the one power. We saw something to this effect when we were ambushed. Several of the weaves I tried were ineffective or had reduced effect against them. I have never seen such a thing before.
Litheene nods to Jasmine's comment, adding This is the emissary of the black tower. We managed to get him back, however, when I've tried healing him, my weaves re-bounced from him.
The Amrylin purses her lips, obvious annoyance crossing her features, but then her features relax, and then her shoulders relax, finally nodding.
This man must be Helped at once. Send for Nynaeve, Maighdan. And Let the sisters know that i am conveying the Hall.
Vala grabbed the Child and heads to the last place she saw Keelix and Ryvin. She heads that way and when she gets there she lowers the body to the ground and looks to Keelix."Children are coming here, a small army, we need to prepare for the worst." she says as she touches her blade.
An hour passes, nynaeve has roused Ryvin from her deep sleep with an angry Time for war, you can sleep later so that she can work on Jasper.
In another location of Salidar, all the rebels of the white tower crowd around a tent without sides, its large expanse covering a large swath of ground. inside sit a couple rows of benches, and a raised chair. women of all the ajahs, except red, fill the benches. One face stands out in particular, Jasmine, surprising everyone to be an actual Sitter of the Hall for the yellow Ajah.
We call this meeting to the Light. Everything said within is Sealed to the Flame. The keeper intones.
We so swear those inside intone
Point of order, why are we allowing everyone outside to listen in on this meeting. this is unheard of! They are not members of the hall, have not proven themselves to be women, and many could be spies! why suggest that they listen in on this.One lady with red hair cries out just after the affirmation.
Before the keeper can say anything, Egwene steps out from behind the large chair, and the sight is startling.
Before, there was a young woman who wore dresses and had a habit of keeping her hair hung, an impish smile upon her face.
Now out steps a woman, confident, empowered, her hair now braided into two braids with leather tassles. Yet that isnt the only thing about her that stills people into silence.
She wears armor, a leather skirt and chain shirt. A sword hangs at her side, along with a small buckler attached to her arm. In her right hand she holds a rod, 3 feet in length, its end blazing with light.
The enemy, the whitecloaks from across the river, approach us from the north. The Seanchan approach us from the south. The greatest threat, the Tower itself, reaches down to us even here. The tower even holds the Dragon himself. We are at a crossroads, and i make a motion to the Hall, a declaration of war. We, the true White Tower, we declare war on The white cloaks, those pathetic children of light, the Seanchan, and we declare war upon Eladia and her followers. The greatest crime that has been perpetrated is the holding of the Dragon.
This is too great of a declaration to hide behind domes of silence sisters. Let everyone here know that I wish to go to war, to protect the people of all the lands, from Shara to Arad Domon, from the Blight to Tear and beyond. Let them know that Winter is coming, and it begins with me.
What say you, sisters? Will you join me? Will you declare war to preserve ourselves and the nations that have survived these last millenia?
"If we're going to war, at least give me a splint for the ruddy leg!" Ryvin snaps back at Nynaeve. "That, or Heal it! I don't want to be a burden like a sack of potatoes if there's going to be fighting!"
Keelix steps close, ignoring Nynaeve, and helps Ryvin into a seated position. He seems ready to pick her up if necessary. In the dimness of the warehouse, his eyes shine like molten gold.
"Ryvin, I have a sword if you wish to have one. It is not a beautiful one but it will still gut a man like any other blade, that you can have"Vala says as she looks at Keelix and smiles than turns and looks stone faced at Nynaeve.
"Sister I am sorry to interrupt you here, and grace your healing center with the body of one of the Children but I had to see...." she let her words die off as she felt the heat in her cheeks and than closed her eyes."See how Keelix was faring"
"I appreciate the offer, but I haven't been properly trained with a sword," Ryvin says, glumly. "I can whip up a weapon of my own if it comes to it, though; no worries."
While most of his attention remains on Ryvin and her injuries, he does meet Vala's eyes for a moment and a heat that has nothing to do with anger flashes into his expression.
So it has come to this Litheene closes her eyes and feels her doubt and repulsion from war swell. Her fear, the memories of the Domai Wells battle, her training, all of it. She looks upon what she used to be, from the scared damane, who fought like an animal, to the scared pacifist accepted, and then Aes Sedai, who denied herself her own power.
And then, Egwene's word sink in. The Myrradral faces as they lashed at her only a few days ago. Her friends severed by the black sister, her past Suldam among a Seanchan force with a Damane strong enough to tear buildings into the air. Ryvin motionless. The trap of the white cloaks. A mad man pressing at her eyes. Amorial and Vala fighting to protect her. The madman threatening to burn Amorial. Jasper fading as she was helpless to help. As she listens, and looks upon all that happened, Litheene realizes she is not afraid anymore. Neither the fear Seanchan, nor Myrradral, and most importantly, herself, remain.
You are a child Shari and I was a child to argue with you about restraint, when my friends fought tooth and nail around me, and my warders risked their lives to protect me. The one power is power, and the three oaths are there to protects it from being abused. But it is also a weapon, and it can be used as such. It is my decisions, and my responsibility that differ me from the animal the Seanchan wanted me to become, not my ability to kill.
Litheene opens her eyes, and looks upon this young Amyrlin, about her age, yet so different, full of confidence and determination, and she is ready for war.
After the declaration, Litheene will hurry to Vala's side, and inspect the white cloak's body. She will take it to a secluded room, and probe it with the power, to see what Jasmine was talking about. Then she will release the power and proceed to strip him as well, once again feeling and looking for any terangreal.
"Than Keelix I will grant you the use of it." she said handing you the Child's sword and than looking at you, he eyes were filled with worry" Take it just in case you are in close quarters this toothpick might actually save your life" she says letting her hand run up to caress your cheek and than looks to Ryvin.
" I'm Sorry Lady Ryvin, I'm not making you uncomfortable am I?" Vala asks as she looks to Keelix than Ryvin than the dead Child of light and than back to Ryvin.
Keelix accepts the sword with a grim smile, "Perhaps this steel can be redeemed by slaying those it once served." He turns his face into the caress for a moment before moving to the whitecloak's body and taking the sheath for the blade from the pile of his clothes. Keelix hangs the scabbard at his left side and returns to Ryvin.
"Just try to keep it to yourselves," Ryvin dryly replies to Vala. "You're two adults, free to do as you wish, but I'd prefer not to be an audience to the ah, finer details."
Jasmine stands up once Egwene finishes and looking pointedly at Romanda before saying We are at war already sisters...we might as well make it official. We can move forward and be proactive now instead of reactive as we have been sitting here. I for one will stand with you Mother and I call on my sisters here in the hall to do the same.
Talking continues about this item up for vote. there are those within that proclaim that the tower has never gone to war, that it goes against tradition, that it is unnatural. The biggest complaint is the three oaths, especially using the one power as a weapon.
How can we go to war, but hamper ourselves without being able to be at war? a woman wearing a green shawl stands, asking the question to the Hall.
Egwene, nodding, says something that is so simple that it defies belief.
Then I will remove that oath from all Aes Sedai, so that they may go to war.
Jasmine looks over and says I did not know it was possible to remove the oaths. If that is true then the three oaths themselves hold little weight due to the fact that they can be removed. The three oaths have stood as a testament to the strength of the Aes Sedai and provide a framework upon which we may deal with the world. Without that assurance that we will not attack without provocation, nor lie outright, we may find our ability to affect events in the proper way hindered significantly. Jasmine says looking at the Greys and Blues. We have fought in wars before sisters, I see this as no different. We may not use the one power as a weapon...except in the defense of our lives, the lives of our warders, and against shadowspawn. Therein lies our ability to fight as it always has.
Some of the sisters in the audience nod along with Jasmine's words.
True, it is not possible to use the power as a weapon while we are bound to that oath. And yes, that oath is still binding, since all aes sedai here have used the Oath Rod prior to the Rebellion. And yet one of the catechisms that follows the Dragon around is that the Dragon will break all Oaths, allowing those to choose new paths, in an effort to help the Dragon. The Aiel vowed to never return to these Wetlands, and yet here they are. The Whitecloaks vowed to fight against all forms of witchery, and yet they ally with the Seanchan to destroy us.
Some of you may see this as mearly an excuse to rid ourselves of a burdensome Oath, that I, as an Amrylin without an Ajah, and having never bound myself to these Oaths using the Oath Rod, would do away with something that is tradition and a key facet of our power. I look at all of you now and say no.
We go to war, and yet when we do so, we are at a distinct disadvantage. We have to put ourselves in danger now in order to use the power. That kind of thinking is suicidal. I for one, would rather strike at the enemy from afar rather than providing them with the opportunity to strike at me before i can retalliate.
Now, some of you may be thinking how are we to remove the oaths? we need an oath rod to do this. You are correct. We need one. And there is only one that i know of that we can easily access...
It is the oath rod held in the White Tower.
"Well, blood and ashes, is this ever a cue if I've heard one," Ryvin growls. She limps over to the tent opening and tries to get admittance. "Oy!" she shouts regardless. "I, Ryvin Altessar, claim every woman's right to be heard by the Amyrlin Seat on a matter of importance! I have a matter to bring before the Hall of the Tower!"
Vala stands out side helping Keelix with Ryvin. She stood there and listened. She knew they needed to talk but yet this wasted precious time to sit here and bicker like old hens. Action will need to be taken.
Keelix paces beside Ryvin, letting her get a step ahead of him when she begins speaking, another step when he hears what she is saying. He is still close enough to catch her should she need his support.