A group of old friends--all members of the original Tales of Ta'veren class of Trainees and Novices--gather on the grounds of the White Tower to discuss what the future holds for them. - Tristan, 9 December 1998

Today is Sevenday, 9 Nesan, 995 NE. It is a Autumn afternoon.
Practice Yard: White Tower, Tar Valon
A wooden fence encloses the practice yard area, so that trainees won't be distracted by passing traffic. The ground is bare of grass, too trampled by feet to allow much to grow. A rough wooden shed protects the wooden practice swords, staves and spears used in the practice sessions. The yard is dotted with pairs of young men honing their weapons skills under the watchful eyes of a few grizzled Warders. The brisk northern breeze is barely noticeable to those exerting themselves in training. A gateway to the north leads to the main Tower Road. To the east, a door opens into the Warders' Barracks.

Sarius walks out of the barracks, accompnaied by a Proven, who he is muttering to. They stop, and face each other, and Sarius shows the Proven a grip, and then a twist of the arm and the Proven is on his knees. Something to do with unarmed combat apparently. The Proven tries to grip on Sarius, and after a couple of tries, gets it. He smiles to Sarius, and excuses himself, heading off to a lesson with the gruff-looking man.

As the training sessions, the sparring that never seems to end, continue, one fellow who was among them until only lately sits poised on the fence, watching. Golden of hair and azure of eye, clad in an emerald coat bearing the sigil of his House, Tristan looks on with a pensive, almost wistful look, deep in silence.

Sarius moves towards Tristan, giving the Gaidin a warm smile in greeting.

Tristan glances up as Sarius' approach brings the other man near enough to notice, and a warm smile replaces the hunted look in the nobleman's eyes. "Time was, not long ago, we'd be out there getting our pride handed to us on a platter," he quips drily.

Sarius laughs softly, glancing over his shoulder. "We still have to be careful, or we can still get our pride handed to us."

Rio walks up to the two gaidin. She eyes the combat training with repulsion. Her feelings do not get in the way of her duty however.

Sarius notices Rio approaching, and nods pleasantly her way.

Rio says "Peace be upon you both." she tells the two taller men smoothly, "I am seeking Godarian Sedai. I have a message for her. Have either of you seen her?"

Sarius glances to Tristan, and shrugs. "I haven't myself. Have you Tris?"

"Life on a razor's edge," Tristan thoughtfully agrees, pronouncing each word as if considering them carefully. "Keeps us sharp, eh? Everything's changing, Sar. Aislynn's leaving, you know--" He breaks off at Rio's arrival, grinning at her as he shifts himself on the fence. "No, I will *not* bond with Amellia Sedai," he teases her! "But Godarian? Can't say I have."

Sarius chuckles. "I can't think of anyone who would bond Amellia Sedai."

Rio smiles at the handsome tease and looks up at him. "I was not speaking of bonding, Sir, but of a message."

Rio becomes thoughtful. "Aislynn is leaving? I had not heard. I am sorrowed to hear of it. We have both served here in the tower for a long together."

"My message," Tristan replies, the teasing tone never leaving his voice, "..is not to pester Tristan Diarmedrid about this business of bonding without a red ribbon for Aislynn tied to their wrists, all of 'em!"

Pausing, Tristan explains to Rio, "The call of Prince Greydon and the Lion throne finally grew too loud for her to ignore any longer. They've come to take her home."

Sarius looks to Tristan and luaghs. "Ah come on, you know you like them bugging you to bond. But I hadn't heard about Aislynn either. I knew the Andor contingent had come here, but not why."

Rio smiles. "Can you blame the sedai, Tristan? You are well known for your skill with a sword after all." She makes no mention of his appearance, but it is implied by a twinkle in her eye. "Will you go back to Andor when she leaves?"

Rio glances at Sarius as he speaks and nods slightly with his words, in agreement with him.

Having seemed quite relaxed before, Tristan almost visibly loses some colour at Rio's query. Fidgeting slightly, he glances up almost bashfully, an uncertainty unusual in such a strong personality. "That's the crux of it all, isn't it?" He sighs. "I do not know what I shall do."

Sarius smiles wryly. "Do something useful I would imagine, for once in your life." He grins a little more.

Rio gazes at the gaidin, her expression grows soft. "There are those here that might...miss you, should you leave." Then she remembers herself and graciously includes the gaidin standing beside her, "Many of us."

Sarius turns and nods, his grin widening a little at her comment. "Oh yes, we'll miss him."

Tristan chuckles softly at the both of them, his youthful, boyish grin unchanged in the five years he has spent here, and flashing brightly now. "It's just--don't you feel this sense of moving on, this impending... future?" He scratches his head. "Oh, you're great friends! I'm just so unsure of where I'll be a month from now, or a year, you see?"

Rio looks at Sarius from under a coy expression, one that she learned well in the taverns back in her days as a dancer. "One can't always comprehend what one has until it is gone."

Rio smiles. "Uncertainly is the way of the present, Tristan, it is what makes life worth living. I'm sure that you will make the right choice for yourself."

Sarius nods slowly, becoming a little more serious, though still smiling. "The future is unstoppable. The Wheel weaves as it will. I don't think we have too much of a choice in what we want." A corner of his mouth quirks up at some private joke.

Rio chuckles as she and Sarius give the same advice in two different ways.

Making a face, Tristan replies with an impish smile, "You both sound like a pair of old women." Chuckling, he hops down off the fence so as to prevent Sarius from hitting him, and keeps the wooden barrier between the pair and himself. "But really, I've been thinking a lot about it of late."

Sarius laughs. "Old women eh? Best you hide. I don't think you're thinking, you seem to be whining, every bit as much as old woman as me."

"If I was whining, I'd be lamenting Aislynn's departure, not discussing it with you two," Tristan quips in return, blue eyes sparkling with his old vivacity. "I'm serious, now! Doesn't it bother you at all--moving on?" Despite his smile, he does seem honest.

Rio leans against the wooden fence, "Old woman? If you are not careful, I will let Amellia Sedai know where are you." She is highly amused.

Sarius shrugs. "Of course it bothers me. I've wanted to become Gaidin. Now I am one, and tomorrow I could be bonded and headed to Andor or somewhere else equally despicable."

Rio shakes her head at his question. "What way is there to move but forward, Tristan? There is nothing in the past for me to return to. Some of us don't have a family waiting for us after all." She eyes Sarius, curious as to his answer as well. Perhaps this is a subject she has pondered on her own, or so her words might suggest.

Sarius grins slightly, unable to keep from taking a low blow at Tristan. Revenge for other comments maybe.

Rio looks at Sarius curiously. "I have never thought how much you gaidin might fear bonding. It is what you train for so many years, yet when the time comes, you are hesitant."

Tristan fixes Rio with the full weight of that sapphirine stare, grinning at the girl. "The question is which forward are we moving, Rio? This way or that?" He bristles at Sarius' comment about Andor, but lets it go unheeded, instead saying suddenly and decisively, "No-one but a friend will bond me. I won't take any of those eighty-year old ageless sorts. Not now. I can't."

Sarius shrugs again. "Wouldn't you be careful to choose your bond? After all, there isn't any changing, its permanent. If you bond the wrong person then you're unhappy and stuck. Personally I'm scared of bonding."

Rio looks into Tristan's blue eyes, caught there for a moment. Then a regretful look passes over her and she instead returns her attention to Sarius, "I guess I never really thought about it is all, but I see what you mean."

Rio says "It can go both ways you know. As a sedai you must have complete trust in your warder, or you put your life at risk. I myself don't know if I could ask another to face a danger or act in violence on my behalf."

Sarius nods, and grins turning to Tristan. "By the way, there is a Saldean Aes Sedai who very much loves her country. I thought you two would go well together, always bickering over loyalty and what not. At least you wouldn't be bored. She's Green, and even a little cute."

"He's right," Tristan chimes in, "..it's almost a life-or-death decision. It's even bigger than marriage. You girls--you always laugh and giggle and stay up nights wondering, I'm sure," he says, all teasing gone from his voice now, and replaced by a certain gravity, "..but for us, it's different. It's once--and no more."

Tristan flashes Sarius a curious look, and deadpans, "I couldn't serve the Queen of Saldaea eggs on a skillet, let alone with my sword." His lips twist in a wry grin at that.

Rio listens to Sarius tell Tristan about another prospect and again, she looks regretful, but then says, "You are right in that they laugh about it, but it is only that they do not understand yet what responsiblity they will have later."

Sarius chuckles. "I know. But it would be funny seeing the two of you always bickering, always arguing." He turns to Rio, and nods slowly. "I don't know if the Aes Sedai have the same responsibility as we do. We are there to protect and take care of our bonds. That is our lot. We're the blade that always has to be alert and ready. That we're taught from the beginning. An Aes Sedai is the one who is to protected, even if she is the strongest in the One Power, she expects the Gaidin's protection and devotion."

With a touch of sadness, Rio adds, "And I would not lump myself in with those other young girls, Tristan. I knew at a young age what those responsiblities between men and women were. There is no laughter in me."

Rio nods. "But even if you are strong in saidar, there are threats that will slip in of another nature. A gaidin is necessary should you leave the tower."

Sarius nods. "I agree. But that is the difference. The Gaidin are to be protectors to Aes Sedai. That is our first concern, always."

Tristan tilts his head to give attention and agreement to Sarius, but Rio's comment brings a frown to his face. "No laughter? But your entire people are filled with laughter." Her second comment passes him by; he is intent on the other. "I remember you sneaking out to dance at the Great Tree Inn on a free night! You know all about laughter, Rio."

Rio smiles at that, she well remembers that night. "Yes, there is always happiness in dancing for me. It is how I remember my people." She seems pleased that he remembers the incident, even after all this time.

"We are all away from home, here," Tristan says quietly, "..and if I have a family and others do not, it hurts all the more, sometimes--because they are there to return to, but it is a road closed to me forever."

Sarius glances to Tristan, questioning. "Closed road? How so?"

Rio also looks curiously at Tristan.

Tabor enters silently from the barracks to glance around the yard.

"They're tied to the land and to duties," Tristan explains to Rio and Sarius, who stand across the fence from him. "While I am bound by oath to House and Queen, so am I vowed to the Tower... I cannot serve both forever."

Sarius nods slowly. "Well, at least you can make that choice. Mine was made quite awhile ago." He spots Tabor in the Yard, and nods to man from a distance.

Rio notices Tabor enter the area and gives him a nod of acknowledgement.

Jarrue walks over from the main Tower Road to the north.

Jarrue makes her way along the practice yard's wooden enclosure, attention -- of course -- offered up to those trying to show off /inside/ the enclosure.

Tabor nods to the group conversing by the fence before finding himself a seat on a nearby bench to begin a little sword maintenance.

"I wonder. Will I make the choice--or will it be made for me?" Tristan's smile is only half-way this time, a touch pensive again as before. Nodding to Tabor, he goes on, "I am bound to two very separate ideals, no matter that they are allied together. This is what worries me most."

Sarius nods slowly. "The time will come when you're forced to make a choice. While maybe not disregarding one oath, you have to focus more so on another, it would seem."

Rio shakes her head. "There will be a way to combine both together, Tristan. Give yourself time to think about all the angles first." She tries to sound comforting.

Jarrue doesn't have a clue as to what everyone's talking about and adds her two coppers anyhow: "The choice will be made for you, Tristan. Certainly."

Rio turns and looks at her friend, slightly aghast, but then again, she is well familiar with Rue's ways.

"Which is expressly why whoever this bondmate will be," Tristan tells Sarius gravely, "She must understand my devotion to the Lion Throne." Then, he looks to Rio with a thankful smile as he whispers to his fellow warder, under his breath, "And that means no Saldaeans!"

Frowning, Tristan levels a smirk at Jarrue. "Oh really...?"

Jarrue nods and shrugs. "Course.

Sarius laughs. "I was only joking Tristan. I don't even know a Saldaean Green."

Jarrue does and starts shaking her head already.

Rolling his eyes, the golden-headed Andorman--all five feet and six inches of him--shifts his stance to lean forward against the fencepost, gracefully lazy. "You're all so horrible," he cries in mock-exasperation, then finally breaks out in a fit of laughter. "How ridiculous we've all become."

Sarius chuckles with Tristan. "I don't think we're anymore horrible than when we started here at the Tower."

Jarrue arches her brow -- accusingly now. "Ridiculous?

"Worse," Tristan agrees with Sarius, still laughing a bit as he twists himself up into a sitting position on the railing once more. Lips twisted into a wry grin, he drily tells Jarrue, "Ridiculous."

Jarrue says "You might be, but, then again, you're frail. You're not expected to last more than a couple of years."

"Now who's taking herself too seriously, Lady Jarrue Bel'Amiel?" Tristan's voice is teasing, but it holds a challenging edge as well. "You'll have a tough time finding any Gaidin with an attitude like that. Going Red?" Balanced on the fence like a bird, he laughs.

Sarius bends over and picks up a small chunk of dirt and stands again, looking to Jarrue, his smile gone. "Really? And who expects that?" While Tabor is polishing the sword, Sarius tosses the dirt, right at his chest. It's only small, soft.

Jarrue smiles as Sarius flings the dirt and just shrugs Tristan's way. "How'd you hear? It's supposed to be a secret.

"They warned me when I first showed signs of going mad," Tristan blithely replies, scratching his golden head idly while looking up at the sky. "Think I should proclaim myself the Dragon reborn, Sarius? Or would that be too much attention?"

Jarrue grins. "It'd only mean that Darius'd tie himself to your leg, Tristan," she says -- turning to go. "Should I get him for you?

Sarius laughs. "If you wanted to proclaim yourself the Dragon Reborn I'll call myself Asmodean, and they wouldn't know who to chase."

Tristan chuckles at the irreverent humour, keeping his sharp blue eyes peeled for any passing Sisters. Seeing none, the young Warder gives Jarrue his sweetest smile. "Better a scribe on my leg than a Red in my head," he remarks.

Sarius snorts back laughter at that one.

Jarrue shrugs, smirking. "Shall I quote you on that during my next 'gentling' lesson?

"If you think my authority will carry any weight, you're welcome to it," Tristan replies, stroking his chin now instead of his hair, eyes still shining with mischief. "I'm always told the Tower knows no greater authority, though--so I wouldn't put your passing grades in my clumsy hands."

Jarrue waves it off. "Oh, it's not the grades that I'd be going for -- it's Yarra Sedai's reaction to having reds be put up as an object of ridicule that would make my day." Dare? "I'm perfectly able to fail without your help though, and will let this one slide.

Tristan waves it off with a blithely careless gesture, his grin irreplaceable and irrepressible. "You're still taking things far too personally," he decides. "You should loosen up a bit, Jarrue. Truly."

Jarrue was walking off and then stops, turns, and winks Tristan's way before blowing Sarius a small kiss. "Life /is/ personal guys, you should know that," she laughs - shrugging once again. "Light...

Tristan follows Jarrue's glance, watches her blow Sarius a kiss--and then reaches out to give his friend a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. "Well, well, Sarius--it looks like your bond is all but decided in that one's mind," he remarks in a low and teasing tone.

Sarius swats at Tristan. "In her mind maybe. In mine I have zero desire to bond her."

Tristan nearly topples from the fence as he ducks out of Sarius' way, but manages to catch himself on one knee rather than sprawl out like an oaf. "Your mind," he says with a merry laugh, "..doesn't seem to enter into her equation!

Sarius darts after Tristan yet, intent on dumping him from his perch. "I'm sure I will be safely bonded by the time she is raised.

Tristan hops nimbly off the fence, rather than be ignobly knocked down--and again puts the barrier between himself and his training partner. Coincidence? Doubtful! "If ever there's been an Accepted who'd break that rule," he goes on, still taunting light-heartedly, "It's Jarrue Bel'Amiel..!"

Sarius grins. "Granted, but if she wants to break the rule, she can do it with someone else. Her and I wouldn't make a good pair. I don't know if she would drive me insane first, or if I'd strangle her."

"So that's where you invented that Saldaean idea from," Tristan replies with yet more laughter. "What an afternoon it's been, eh? I can't believe I was so--so--introspective, before! Life's still here for the taking!"

Sarius grins. "I think you're worried that Amellia Sedai may break the rules and trap you. I'm sure that you'll find some cute little Green."

"I don't want a cute little Green," Tristan says with a tired smile, leaning against the fence again. "I want--well, it's not important. What I want, I can't have, so... we'll have to see what it is I get, instead."