RP: Seeking Velieen Sedai
by Doralyse and Velieen
(4/13/2002 - 4/21/2002)
Novice Doralyse Morell finally worked up the nerve to come knocking on the door of the Blue Ajah. Maybe it's too early to do this, but I have to talk to someone! Dory liked this particular Blue Sister. She was an excellent teacher and Dory loved her classes because they made her think and feel, not just memorize!
As she approached the hallways reserved for the Blue sisters a woman in a sky blue silk dress trimmed in gray pearls came towards her. Dory curtsied to the woman. Her ageless face against her auburn hair proclaimed her Aes Sedai. The Blue Sister inquired, "Are you looking for something novice?"
"Yes, Aes Sedai, I've come seeking Velieen Sedai, if she is in, and has time to see me. Will you tell me how to find her?" Dory looked up into the Sister's blue-gray eyes. The Sister nodded and pointed to a door not far down the hall, "If she is in, she's there. Just knock and wait for an answer." With that the sister left. Dory stepped lightly down the hallway and knocked at the appointed door. Then she waited for an answer.
HOW CAN I HELP YOU? (Velieen)Velieen was sitting in her room and reviewing some of the new messages from the Blue Ajah's network of Eyes and Ears. Her black cat Morridin was purring in her lap. The Tairen was just about to leave a piece of paper down on the table and pick up another when she heard a knock on the door. The Blue sister gathered the papers around her and put them in the box on the table. She would review the rest of them later. Then she answered to the knock softly:" Come in."
The door opened and a girl in novice white entered. Velieen knew her from her Different Nations class and was very curious to learn what had brought her in her room but kept her serene but friendly expression. She didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable after all. "How can I help you, Doralyse?"
RE: HOW CAN I HELP YOU? (Doralyse)Dory heard Velieen's voice call, "Come in." So she opened the door. She resisted the urge to pat her hair; she knew her skirt was already straight. The Blue sister was sitting at a desk and Dory was surprised to see a beautiful black cat. Somehow, that very homey touch brought a great deal of encouragement to her. Stepping into the room she curtsied. The Aes Sedai was smiling and looked genuinely pleased to see her. Her voice was gentle as she asked, "How can I help you, Doralyse?"
"Velieen Sedai," Dory began a bit hesitantly, "I have really been enjoying the Different Nations Class. I appreciate the way you teach and I enjoy the challenge of learning with you. But I've really come to ask you something a little more personal." The Aes Sedai's eyes widened just a trifle. For a moment Dory dropped her eyes and her hands grasped the sides of her skirt. How do I begin?
Lifting up her head she made a beginning. "When I first came to the White Tower, I could hardly believe I could really learn to channel. I'm one who could learn, but I wasn't born with the spark. I was so taken with the thought of possibly becoming Aes Sedai that I couldn't get any more detailed than that."
She paused for breath. "Many of the other novices seemed to have already planned their Ajahs, missions and some are looking for Warders already. It was all too fast for me."
She added quickly, "I began to take classes, in saidar, channeling, your class and the Ajah class. I began working with the Accepted Tamika who aspires to the Violet Ajah; she is mentoring me and helping me to learn channeling. Then I began studying dream walking with the Accepted Lettarysa, an aspirant of the Yellow Ajah. I have learned that I have some skill at dream walking and a little with Earth singing. I wanted to heal, but I don't think I will ever be a great healer, just the basics."
Dory took a few hesitant steps closer to the Blue, "Velieen Sedai, I have also learned that I have a passion, a passion to protect the helpless when Tarmon Gai'don comes, and to help care for those who have no one else to care for them." Looking over the sister's head and then down at the floor in front of her she continued, "Aes Sedai, I think I would like to aspire to the Blue Ajah, and I don't know where to begin, so I thought," she swallowed quickly, "if I could talk with you about it, maybe you would help me, first to know if this is right for me and then to help me know what to do." Raising her head, she made eye contact with her teacher and waited for an answer.
AT YOUR SERVICE (Velieen)Velieen tried not to smile with delight as Doralyse spoke. Instead she stroke Morridin's soft fur. They Blue Ajah had lacked aspirants for a while but now everything seemed to come back to normal. She listened to Dory carefully and considerately as she did with everyone. The Tairen always tried to make the other people feel comfortable when with her and not scared. Well, unless they were breaking the rules, of course. When the novice fell silent Velieen tried to answer the best way she could but first motioned for her to sit on a chair near her. It could turn out to be a long conversation.
"It'll be better if you sit down, Doralyse. I'll do my best to be of assistance to you but it might take quite a bit. You think I can help you decide if you are right for the Blue Ajah. I can promise you guidance but it will be you who will make the final decision-remember that. It has to be yours for it is you who will be a sister of the Ajah you choose not someone else. It'd be awful to finish in an Ajah that's not right for you. That's why it's always good to consider your choice for a while before making it-something most novices don't do"
The Blue sister let her black cat jump off her lap and went to the other side of the room returning with some hot tea. She had learned it always helped when a conversation required thinking to sip from time to time to give freedom to your thoughts. The Tairen poured her and Doralyse each a cup hoping the novice liked tea and handed it to the girl sitting near her. Morridin was now walking around the novice and begging for attention.
"You can stroke him if you like. He likes meeting new people. And I think a cup of tea will serve us both fine. Now I want you to know that not your strength in the One Power or being born with the spark or not matters when choosing the right Ajah for you. It is your personality and the aims in your life that count. What you want to achieve is really important. For example a Yellow sister has set her main goal to be help the others while a Brown-gather as much knowledge as possible.
Each of us serves a different cause but only the Blue Ajah lets you choose it yourself. It might be one or many but as I think Kristal Sedai has told you in her Ajah class we all, I mean the Blue sisters, share the cause to fight against the Dark One and injustice and each does it in her own way. Your passion to protect the helpless in Tarmon Gai'don and help care for those who have no one else to care for them is really a Blue Ajah cause-it doesn't fit in any of the other Ajahs. And it is a way to fight injustice as well. As for where to begin once you're absolutely sure you want to aspire to the Blue Ajah you'll know what to do but we can start with clearing some questions you have about my Ajah and a brief description of the main characteristics of your personality because they can help me determine if you are suitable for the Blue Ajah as well. Go ahead now."
JUST WHAT I HOPED (Doralyse)Dory sat in the chair Velieen offered her. Thank the Light it isn't another one of those short, wobbly three-legged stools!
The Aes Sedai began, "I'll do my best to be of assistance to you but it might take quite a bit. You think I can help you decide if you are right for the Blue Ajah. I can promise you guidance but it will be you who will make the final decision-remember that. It has to be yours for it is you who will be a sister of the Ajah you choose not someone else. It'd be awful to finish in an Ajah that's not right for you. That's why it's always good to consider your choice for a while before making it-something most novices don't do."
It was just what Dory hoped to hear. She wanted to be the one to discern this in the end. She didn't want someone telling her what she should do, or someone trying to sell her on something. If this decision couldn't stand up to scrutiny, she shouldn't make it. I just need some help being clear about this and being honest with myself.
Just then the beautiful black cat jumped off the Blue sister's lap. As the sister rose and went to the other side of the room to pour tea, the sable creature came over and rubbed against Dory's skirt. It was purring and trying to get her attention. It was succeeding admirably.
The Aes Sedai seemed to read her mind. "You can stroke him if you like. He likes meeting new people. And I think a cup of tea will serve us both fine."
Dory took the teacup in one hand. It smelled like an herbal blend, very soothing and slightly sweet. With her other hand she reached down and stroked the silken fur of the cat.
Velieen Sedai went on to explain that choosing an Ajah really didn't have anything to do with one's strength or abilities with the One Power. It was more a matter of personality and aims in life. She also confirmed that Dory's desire to protect the "little ones" in the Last Battle and to help the helpless did fit into the causes often espoused by members of the Blue. Then she offered to answer any questions Dory might have about the Blue Ajah and went on to suggest that it might help if Dory could share a little about herself with the Aes Sedai.
Dory took a sip of tea to give herself a minute to think. "Honestly, Velieen Sedai, I'm not sure I have any questions yet, except this. Blue sisters seem so different. I don't mean different from other sisters, so much as different from each other. Kristal Sedai is so sparkling and enthusiastic, you seem so calm and wise. Kirlanna seems mysterious and elegant. I know Nefer is aspiring to the Blue and, while I enjoy her tremendously, we couldn't be more different. She is an adventure waiting to happen. I'm more of a blanket to keep the world warm in the cold of night. I can't seem to find a common template for Blueness. What am I missing?"
Both women took just a moment to sip tea, but before the Aes Sedai could answer, Dory jumped in again. "Perhaps it would help if I did tell you a little more about me. It may give you a better frame of reference for an answer. I'm a baker's daughter, from Caemlyn. So while I'm a city girl, I don't have a noble's view of the world. I was the middle child of three and the first daughter. My brother is three years older than I. My sister is two years younger. About two years before I left home, my brother left to take up work on a riverboat. He had his heart set on it for a long time, and his head was often somewhere in the future, not where his body was today. So I took his share and my share of the responsibilities at the shop. I was often the one to help keep the books, settle the problems between my father and the apprentices, and often between the apprentices, too. I had a reputation for keeping calm in a crisis, and being level headed. Though when my mind is made up or my heart set on something, I won't give up."
She looked the Blue sister right in the eye, and said with some vehemence, "Velieen Sedai, the sisters may tell me to leave the White Tower and if so, I'll go. But I'm not leaving on my own without the ring and the shawl."
Realizing how that might sound, Dory softened her voice and said a bit more gently, "I try to be open to other people's ideas and ways. I try not to judge others just because they act differently, or think differently than I do. But when it comes to my values and principles, I can be as stubborn as they come. I think I work well with people, but I also enjoy working by myself. I don't need to be in a crowd to be comfortable, or to be supported by a crowd to feel worthwhile. I tend to have many friends, but few who are really close to me."
Dory pondered long enough for just another quick sip of tea. " I guess," she said a bit tentatively, " I'm one who doesn't enjoy pranks, or practical jokes. I don't think looking for trouble, or breaking the rules is fun. Sometimes, it may be necessary to bend the rules, or act on my best judgment and then take the consequences. But it isn't something I do for the fun of it. I believe most rules are set for good reasons. Sometimes, they may not apply to certain situations, but that should be rare and considered seriously. I know that some people think that makes me a prig. I hope I'm not, but if that's what they think, I'd rather be thought a prig than a fool."
Again Dory became intense, "Velieen Sedai, I believe that we are here, now because the Light is putting together the strongest force that can be gathered before Tarmon Gai'don. I think that's why many of us newer women have the potential to be stronger than many of the more experienced sisters. That may also be why some of the talents seem to be re-appearing again in greater numbers. I believe that we may be called upon not just to fight and defeat the forces of the Dark One, but also to save what can be saved for the day after that battle is won. I want to be as prepared as I can be for that day. I'm not a warrior, at least not in the sense of sword-skilled or able to protect myself in a fistfight. But I have other skills and other strengths. I want to serve where my strength can be forged, tempered and made keen. I'm willing to take risks. I probably already have. But I want to take risks that are worth something and at least have a gambler's chance of paying off. I don't know if any of that fits with the Blue Ajah. But if it doesn't, I hope you can point another way for me go."
FURTHER CONVERSATION (Velieen)Velieen was pleased when she saw that Doralyse liked Morridin's pleading for attention. She knew that some people didn't but she couldn't understand them. Morridin was an adorable creature. When Dory spoke the Tairen was delighted to find that she was asking a fundamental question. Then the novice told her more about herself, which turned out to be helpful indeed.
When the girl fell silent Velieen addressed her softly. "Your question is a well-thought and fundamental one. It is true that Blue sisters differ greatly. But it's also common in the other Ajahs even if it's not so easy to notice. We all share certain qualities and aims and that's what binds us together. A good Blue sister has to be stubborn, determined, motivated and confident. I think these are the four most important qualities that categorize an Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah. There are more, of course, but these are the most crucial ones. As for aims I told you we all fight against injustice and the Dark One. The other personal characteristics we possess are what make us different from each other. You see the Blue Ajah is the Ajah devoted to causes and causes can be very different. Despite the fact we share certain causes each of us has others that are completely her own. This doesn't exist in the other Ajahs-they are devoted to only one cause and this way they are more likely to be alike in personality. You said you were more of a blanket to keep the world warm in the cold of night. Well, I can assure you one thing Doralyse-the blanket can be even more useful than the adventure waiting to happen at certain times. What I want to say by this is that even though we are different each of us is useful and can be helpful at different times. That's why we should always try to work together-because our qualities complement each other.
"Now I would like to comment on what you told me about yourself. It doesn't matter whether you have or don't have the noble's view of the world. You are here to learn the Aes Sedai's view of the world, which in a way means learning all the other views on the world as well. But it's not really that hard-you will just have to learn how to understand the other's motives and so on and that would be easy for an observant girl like you. Aes Sedai come from all possible origins but each of them is honored no matter what her past was. I myself was the daughter of a fisherman in Tear and after my parents' death lived for a while with my uncle in Andor. I do not have any noble blood. Yet can you guess that?
"When you become an Accepted you are bound to the Tower and your past is of no importance anymore-only your present and future. From the other things you said I see that you have some of the necessary qualities to become a good Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah-you are level-headed and calm in crisis, stubborn, determined and motivated. The last three will keep you from being sent away from the Tower. It's wonderful that you try to be open to other people's ideas and ways but sticking to your own principles and values is really crucial as well. You should be able to understand the others but that doesn't mean you have to forsake your principles and values-on the other hand once you are sure in them you have to protect them for they are what make you a unique person.
"Another plus for you is being able to work both in a group and on your own-this is a major advantage and shows that both the group and you yourself can count on you. Not many people possess this characteristic. As for rule-breaking personally I don't think rules should be so easily neglected. Aes Sedai are expected to abide by the rules-otherwise no one would believe we wouldn't hurt them. That's why the Three Vows exist. I think one should try to follow the rules and bend or break them only when it is an absolute necessity to do so. And this certainly doesn't make you a prig. "
The Blue sister took another sip of tea before commenting Dory's last words. In the meanwhile Morridin had jumped into the novice's lap and was already purring. The Tairen smiled and hoped he didn't bother the girl.
"Now your last words sounded exactly like the words I would expect to hear from a Blue sister or aspirant. It's great that you want to help in the way you can and are seeing the Last Battle not only as having to be won but also as taking care of the survivors afterwards and saving what can saved. Would it matter that we won if we all died? According to me you have the potential to become one of the best sisters of the Blue Ajah but as I said before it is your decision for the making. As to other Ajahs you might fit in-Grey-because from what you said about your childhood you seem to be a good negotiator-and perhaps White-you do have philosophical thinking. But remember don't jump to decisions-think about it carefully and then decide."
HELPFUL INFORMATION (Doralyse)Dory listened carefully as the Blue sister answered her questions. First there were the four most important qualities needed to be a Blue sister. A woman needed to be stubborn, determined, motivated and confident. Well, Dory was most definitely stubborn. She had never before been told it might be a virtue. Her father had said she could give lessons to mules on stubbornness. She was determined. She had been determined to come to the White Tower and once here she was determined to stay. She was motivated. Her own desire for knowledge motivated her, her passion for the helpless, the little ones, motivated her. Her commitment to Daven motivated her, more than she wanted to admit, even to herself. Now, confidence? If there was a weakness it was there. But on the other hand, at home when it came to doing what she knew she did it confidently. Perhaps confidence as an Aes Sedai would come as she learned more. She had to remember to give it some time.
Velieen Sedai's explanation about each sister having her own cause was also helpful. Dory could see how that would allow a great deal of diversity in this Ajah. It seemed that diversity was even the strength of this Ajah. As she continued to listen to Velieen, she set her teacup on a nearby table and sat with her hands in her clasped lightly in her lap. She was focusing on the Aes Sedai's words. Even the soft black cat was forgotten.
Dory was beginning to see what was meant by an Aes Sedai's view of the world. An Aes Sedai was of no nation and of all nations. Dory had already begun to think of Tar Valon as home rather than Caemlyn. She was already changing her way of thinking. When she said "we" before she meant the people of the merchant's street, or the people of Caemlyn, or even the people of Andor. "They" were Cairhien, or Borderlanders, or some other foreign people. But now, "we" were the sisters of the White Tower. "They" were everyone else. Dory considered what it meant for an Aes Sedai to be an ambassador, a person of rank to be treated with utmost respect and dignity. A sister did not command armies, nor could she even wield the power as a weapon except under the most controlled circumstances. What a sister brought to her embassy was her own learning, wisdom, insight, and skills. Often a Blue sister traveled alone in unfriendly territory where wit and maybe a single warder's sword were the only defense she could count on. Aes Sedai were also servants available to any in need of what they could give. Such a one was higher than any king or queen and lower than any village good-wife and mother. A sister had more than the richest merchant and less than the poorest child. Because all that she had belonged, not really to her, but to the White Tower. Yet, in a real way, the White Tower, itself belonged to every Aes Sedai. All that gives an Aes Sedai a very particular perspective on the world.
Velieen Sedai paused to give Dory time to think. As the Aes Sedai was taking a sip of tea the beautiful black cat jumped in Dory's lap. Again she began stroking him and he purred with delight.
When Velieen spoke again she said, "Now your last words sounded exactly like the words I would expect to hear from a Blue sister or aspirant." Dory took those words to heart. Not that she would make any decisions until she completed the Ajah class, but this woman, so clear in her thought and discernment was confirming the movements of Dory's heart. It was her last words that touched Doralyse most deeply, "You have the potential to become one of the best sisters of the Blue Ajah but as I said before it is your decision for the making."
Dory sat silent for a moment, stroking the beautiful black creature. She looked for a bit into its bright eyes. "Velieen Sedai, what is the name of this beautiful creature?"
Story content © of the Authors: Doralyse and Velieen.
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