[Miklia Heel]

Miklia led the three girls through the corridors. She stopped past the room they had exited from just as a small scream could be heard from inside. She knew the novice, and the attitude the girl had that made her so unpopular. Quietly she didn't blame the novices wanting to prank her. Slipping the door open she poked her head inside.

"The culprits are on their way to Rhynnan, I just need to take these sheets." Turning after she had picked them up, she saw what had made the girl scream and quickly channelled, killing the rat. There was some faint squeaking coming from the wardrobe so she opened it and wrapped a thread of air around them, carrying the remaining rodents, suspended in the air, with her as she left.

Miklia had been helping Athelas Sedai carry the books back to her room after class, having entered by the back into the woman's chambers they must have missed the novices by a few seconds. Told to report what they had found to the Mistress of Novices, Lia had left, but soon heard movement ahead of her in the hall and followed finding the three she now had in tow.

They arrived at Rhynnan's study to note that the light was still on. Miklia knocked gently and when called to enter did so. She had the bed clothes in her hands and the rats suspended in their cage of Air at about shoulder height beside her. After being given permission Miklia spoke.

"I followed these three from the Red's quarters, as I was returning from an errand with Athelas Sedai. Her room was void of sheets - except for some 'novice' ones that had been placed there... there were also a number of rats. The girl's went and stowed these-" She indicated to the bed clothes she was carrying and then to the remaining rats "- in room 243 and were returning it seemed to their own rooms." Rhynnan would know that that was Arila's room so there was no point explaining it, Miklia was tired herself and still needed to study as well as really had no interest in waiting to see the out come of all this. It was not her fault and she needed get on with things that were her business.

She knew Rhynnan was reasonable, in fact she had had discussions with her about the Grey Ajah as she planned to pursue that, so taking a deep breath she added politely, "I have nothing more to add and if you have no questions for me Aes Sedai, I would like to return these to Athelas Sedai immediately and remove the rats to somewhere more appropriate. Before seeing to my own tasks for the evening."

(OOC - both my novices will respond before you if that's okay Rhynnan)

[Idrial]

Idrial remained silent as they followed the Accepted down the halls towards the Mistress of novices. Idrial then suddenly remembered about the Wise Ones and how they always wanted to know how she was doing in the White Tower since she was so far away from home. Lying was not an option for her; it would shame her for the rest of her life if she did such a thing.

In her home land if she was caught she would be teased for weeks for being so clumsy, pranking was almost like a Tradition when she was a Maiden but even then she would never dream of doing it on a Wise One. If a Wise One caught you, she shuddered a little and pushed that into the back of her mind. She still remembers the one Maiden that had tried it and it was not a pretty sight.

The Accepted stopped at a door and knocked on it firmly, she hoped that the Mistress wasn't in but it seemed that luck had left her for the night. All three entered in an orderly fashion with the Accepted before them showing the bed sheets and rats that were suspended by a weave of air. She explained to the Mistress the situation in which Idrial kept her head down and remained silent, not wanting to really speak as of now or ever for that fact. Sooner or later she knew that she would have too whether she liked it or not.

She only took a quick glance at the Mistress and saw that she was calm and collected. Idrial did not know what this meant and took as not a very good sign. She glanced at the girls beside her only to look back down; she wished that they had known how to do hand-talking so at they could communicate. That was how most of the time when the person that they had pranked on turned her back they would make small talk to calm each other at least. Here tension lingered in the air like a thick and nothing could lift. She now waited for the Mistress to speak to each of them.

[Talina Thornia]

Talina couldn't believe it! The whole prank had been turned upside down at the last minute. It was so unfair! Arila deserved to get pranked and the Accepted had just saved her from it completely. She really really disliked the red head and the girl gave everyone so much grief it wasn't fair that the one time someone tried to get back at her luck did not favour them.

Talina's face was one of curiosity mingled with dread. She knew Rhynnan knew she was an acrobat and hoped against everything that her penance would not be too time consuming. But that was the risk she had took and it would not be the Mistress of Novices fault that she took it. Sighing even her bright eyes lost their usual sparkle. She didn't like the fact that Rhynnan was the Mistress of Novices. It was very annoying. The one Aes Sedai she owed thanks to was the one that she had to report to for everything. Rhynnan had saved her tumbling career and that Talina would never forget. Rhynnan had not mentioned it since her admission to the Tower but the knowledge of it gnawed at the back of her mind, making her feel uneasy about doing anything that might create more work for someone who had preserved the thing she enjoyed most about life.

So far Talina's behavior had been quite admirable. She had not been sent to Rhynnan for anything aside from organizing her classes. A few of the Aes Sedai had been annoyed at the fact she was so energetic and that she found it difficult to sit still in class sometimes but none had sent her to the Mistress of Novices for it. One had tied her to the seat with weaves of Air. Talina shuddered - it was not an experience she had enjoyed, she would have much preferred being sent to Rhynnan's study. The Mistress of the Kitchen's thought Talina was fantastic. Talina worked with great enthusiasm in the kitchen because she loved physical exertion and it was one place she could get it without risking disfavour from anyone... except the other novices, who originally thought she was trying to curry favour. However now she had it down to a fine art, she would take work from the other novices and still did things enthusiastically, so everyone was happy.

They arrived at Rhynnan's door. Even if it was a strange adrenalin, Talina felt energy rush through her all of a sudden. Surely she wasn't excited. Carefully she kept her face as straight as possible. But adrenalin of any kind made her want to smile and she knew her eyes would not be able to hide the feeling of anticipation she had. Taking a deep breath she entered and kept her eyes low, to hide their sparkle. She just hoped when Rhynnan spoke to her the stress of the situation didn't make her laugh, she couldn't imagine that going down too well.

[Egueni T'al]

Egueni sighed and couldn't help but shoot Talina an 'I told you so' look as the Accepted led them down the hall. Even if she knew she had had a choice and regardless of how it had turned out, she was responsible for it. Egueni really wasn't looking forward to a meeting with Rhynnan so late. At this time of night any Aes Sedai would not be the mood to see a group of pranking novices. Couldn't Miklia had said to report tomorrow?

Deep down Egueni felt a bit sorry for the Accepted. It seemed the girl was caught up in something and probably had her own things to see to. Miklia had not been too awful about it, other Accepteds would have been lecturing her all the way to Rhynnan's study but the girl they were with said nothing, though Egueni noticed her sigh a few times.

Egueni had not been to Rhynnan's study very often, the only semi-serious offense had been purposely staining her dress. She still did really really hate the colour white and was constantly blocking it from her mind. Quietly she hoped Rhynnan would forget she was a musician. But she wasn't actually that scared of the Mistress taking her instruments off her, they hadn't been cause for the prank after all. But the possibility was always in the back of her mind.

They entered the room and Egueni could see Idrial looking at the ground, the girl seemed embarrassed to be here, Talina looked a little excited but Egueni was sure that could not be the case. For herself she made eye contact briefly with Rhynnan before looking at the ground. It was where the other two had stationed their eyes so she supposed it was a good as any until the Mistress of Novices would likely ask them to sit. The Accepted spoke first and Egueni was glad to hear her mention the room number, there was a really really faint possibility that if she knew it was Arila they had been pranking they might get off lighter than if it was a new novice or completely 'unprovoked' attack. Subconsciously she bit her lip and waited for Rhynnan to speak.

(Ooc- marathon of posts... I don't think I've done three in the one 'non class' thread before... learning experience)

[Rhynnan Da'kar]

It had been a long day, filled with bickering Accepted and even a Blue Arafellin Sister who decided she deserved penance, Rhynnan had been hard pressed to come up with something that would sooth the woman's honor and pride. When it had been handled she had chosen to go for a walk to calm her mind and resettle herself, only to discover that Roh had nearly taken the arm off of a Youngling in a training session. The boy had stared at her with startlingly yellowish eyes, which had lead her to some confusion as she Delved and Healed. It was something she had recorded in her month's notebook, making a note to ask Roh just what exactly he had been doing with the boy that had nearly cost him the limb. It was just as well she had been in the area instead of some Green fledgling with an intention to bond herself a warder as soon as possible, the more exotic the better.

Following that affair, she had made to return to the Tower, only to be delayed by Kayhen, come to give her word of Arael. It had turned into a long discussion that had been half flirtation on his side and half evasion on hers; people who were often in his company got used to it, Kayhen flirted with women of all ages entirely indiscrimminately. She had seen grown women go weak in the knees at the sight of him, and not less than half of those had been fully raised Sisters. Some women had no shame.

In short, by the time she reached her study once more night had fallen. Roh was waiting for her already, having brought her up a tray of dinner in person, intent, no doubt, to watch her eat every bite.

"You work too hard," he pointed out dryly.

"And you work your students too hard," she returned in equal tones.

He had had nothing to say about that, and her meal had passed in silence, broken only when she had finished to call a novice to carry her tray to the kitchen. Roh stayed where he was, in his regular position, by the window, peering out into the nightly world that surrounded the White Tower, and Rhynnan had returned to her paper work. It had been odd, some of her Sisters and Brothers had confessed, to know that her Gaidin was more often than not also in her study. They knew she sent him away when she was dealing with particularly delicate situations, but it had take some time to get used to the idea that the Mistress of Novices relied on her warder as much as a Green would. Rhynnan had found it amusing, although she had let nothing on; she and Roh had been so much in each other's company for the last decade that it something they hardly thought about.

The knock on her door surprised her, a surprise she hid behind Aes Sedai calm, and when she called for entry, she suppressed the urge to raise an eyebrow as Miklia brough in three novices, all of whom Rhynnan was familiar with. Roh too, turned, and the frown on his face was directed almost solely at Idrial, who he instructed in hand to hand combat in the early hours of the morning.

After Miklia was done Rhynnan nodded coolly.

"You may go, Miklia, thank you."

With a sigh, Rhynnan leaned back as the door clicked shut behidn the Accepted, setting her quill down.

"I suppose I only need Amili and Arila in here to make a full package," she remarked, studying them coolly, "I won't say I'm surprised, I know Arila has a tendency to frustrate, but I am disappointed. Talina, doesn't a tumbler of your skill have other ways to deal with restless tension? You, Egueni, you have music to lose yourself to. And you, Idrial, how much wetlander do you have in you that you would put aside ji'e'toh to play childish pranks?"

She shook her head.

"Such foolish behaviour from such usually well behaved girls amazes me, children, I hope you are all well ashamed of your behaviour," she saw Talina's eyes dancing and Rhynnan suppressed the urge to smile, as pranks went it was not bad, she had played worse in her novice years, "or even if you're not, to at least act like it."

Rhynnan glanced over her shoulder at Roh, who raised his eyebrows at her.

"I think laundry duty for a week should set this straight, along with a written apology from each of you to the Sister whose sheets you removed," she said, "but before that I think one of you, Talina, I think given the look on your face, should explain just what exactly you were thinking in doing this. Were you provoked or did it just happen on the spur of the moment?"

Roh actually grunted as though she had socked him in the stomach, laughter's unuttered emotion flaring up along the bond. She shot him an imperative glance.

"Rhynnan, set them the laundry duty, I have another method that will channel their youthful energies," the Gaidin announced, and turned his attention back to the novices, "you, Talina is it? You're a tumbler? And you're a musician?" he asked, looking at Egueni, "why don't you put those talents to good use and come up with something together to entertain the other novices. I am sure Rhynnan will help you, and there must be other novices who have similar talents."

Rhynnan was surprised, she was about to tell him that they were being punished not rewarded, but she realised he might have a point. If novices were kept busy with 'play' then perhaps they would be less inclined to cause trouble. She nodded thoughtfully.

"If it becomes enough of a working success I will count it as an elective study course," the Mistress of Novices added, "not that this means you will not all of you be on laundry duty. As I was saying, however, before I was so studiously interrupted," this with a glance for Roh, who offered her half a bow and turned back into his corner, "is whether you would care to share your side of the 'prank' with me. Was there anyone else involved that I should also be talking to?"

[Talina Thornia]

"I suppose I only need Amili and Arila in here to make a full package, I won't say I'm surprised, I know Arila has a tendency to frustrate, but I am disappointed." Talina couldn't believe she was being compared to those two and the very idea made her a little angry. A prank was not behaving like those at all, a prank was just that a prank, it was not like being obnoxious or bullying.

"Talina, doesn't a tumbler of your skill have other ways to deal with restless tension?" Talina didn't really respond to the question. As far as she was concerned, she tried extremely hard to deal with her energy but it was not always easy in a place where quietly going about ones business was seen as 'proper' novice behaviour. It was seen as having control of yourself if you could sit calmly in class but Talina did not think it fair, no one else seemed to have her level of energy to deal with, so for her to behave 'novice like' was so much harder than Egueni for example.

The Mistress of Novices shook her head, "Such foolish behaviour from such usually well behaved girls amazes me, children, I hope you are all well ashamed of your behaviour."

Talina couldn't help it, the seriousness at which the Sister said it made her want to laugh out loud. She wasn't ashamed of her behaviour, she managed to sniff instead of letting out the giggle that seemed to want to burst from her. What was wrong with her? She was in trouble, she should be feeling concerned about what may come next, not trying to contain giggles. Curse my adrenalin.

Rhynnan shot her a cool glance, "or even if you're not, to at least act like it."

Talina nodded her head slightly and tried even harder to keep her face straight.

"I think laundry duty for a week should set this straight, along with a written apology from each of you to the Sister whose sheets you removed," she said, "but before that I think one of you, Talina, I think given the look on your face, should explain just what exactly you were thinking in doing this. Were you provoked or did it just happen on the spur of the moment?"

Talina opened her mouth, hoping some answer would form in her mind before she began to speak but Rhynnan's Warder broke the silence with a grunt before speaking. She gave a nod as he mentioned her talent and was surprised with his suggestion and also somewhat excited about the idea, she tried to mask her excitement as much as possible though, she didn't want Rhynnan thinking she would actually enjoy his proposal.

"If it becomes enough of a working success I will count it as an elective study course, not that this means you will not all of you be on laundry duty. As I was saying, however, before I was so studiously interrupted, is whether you would care to share your side of the 'prank' with me. Was there anyone else involved that I should also be talking to?" Rhynnan's eyes turned back to her.

Talina took a deep breath, honesty was always the best option, that's what everyone said. "I'm sorry Rhynnan Sedai, especially sorry for the disruption to Athelas Sedai and" that we got caught, she bit her tongue just in time to stop the words spilling out. "The idea was mine, the prank initiated by me. As you said Arila does frustrate, I need say no more about her, rumour is you see her frequently enough to know what she is like. Sometimes my energy is not easy to channel into the right things. Rhynnan Sedai I cannot sit still, classes are a nightmare to me. I'm never tired enough to even sleep well! I am always fighting with myself to not be so..." energetic. She swallowed, her eyes widened as she realised her last few words, she hadn't meant to go quite that far. "Sorry that's not relevant. I'm sorry and know that Egueni, she would not have done it without my encouragement and was hesitant at every step, also I invited Idrial - who though giving us advice to execute the uhh prank well, I doubt would have done it without my suggestion either. I will gladly do the extra laundry, the letter and being able to tumble for the novices would be," she paused and smiled, she couldn't hide the fact she'd love the task, "something I'd enjoy."


OOC- Egueni WILL NOT be responding again... she has nothing more to say.

[Idrial]

The tension in the room did not lift within the room and it did not help with Roh staring at her. His eyes bored into her but she remained composed. She wasn't showing any emotion, her face was neutral and that is how she wanted to keep it. She also knew that no matter what he mistress or her warden said she must hold her tongue. No matter how angry she was as of now, spouting off her mouth would only make matters worse.

She made sure that she was standing straight and tall, not wanting to slouch and appear disrespectful in any way. She kept her head level, her hands to her sides and her eyes straight forward. She listened with open ears to what she had to say towards them.

"And you, Idrial, how much Wet Lander do you have in you that you would put aside ji'e'toh to play childish pranks?"

Idrial said nothing towards her, she did not move or give any sort of indication of her emotions towards the Mistress of Novices. Though in reality her mind was filled with a sort of anger and one that is released it would have dire consequences. She did not know if she could contain her anger, in the waste if you had something to say you went out with it. The Wise Ones especially encouraged giving off your anger. You then calmed down and were able to talk like civil people. Though she did not know if she could do that here, some things she wanted to say would offend the Aes Sedai. Though for a Wise One they knew that when you are angry you say things that you really do not mean.

"Such foolish behavior from such usually well behaved girls amazes me, children, I hope you are all well ashamed of your behavior. "

"I think laundry duty for a week should set this straight, along with a written apology from each of you to the Sister whose sheets you removed."

Idrial listened as Talina explained her situation to the Mistress, she knew that Talina had a high energy level. If they were in the Waste and she told the Wise Ones what she just told the Mistress they would have used that to either put work or they would make her run till she was about to drop to get rid of that energy. They would not let her have any fun of the sort like Roh had suggested. The Wise Ones were right, the Aes Sedai were very soft in there punishments.

"Sorry that's not relevant. I'm sorry and know that Egueni, she would not have done it without my encouragement and was hesitant at every step, also I invited Idrial - who though giving us advice to execute the uhh prank well, I doubt would have done it without my suggestion either. I will gladly do the extra laundry, the letter and being able to tumble for the novices would be, something I'd enjoy."

Idrial swiftly gave a puff of air out of her nose, she was annoyed with the whole thing and wanted to desperately spout off some stream. Her lips curled a little as she looked at Talina, extra shift of laundry and a letter to apologize to the Aes Sedai it was child’s work. Something that would be assigned to a mere ten-year old in the Waste for a punishment. She spoke to Talina in a sort of defiant voice though keeping her calm.

"That is nice of you to offer Talina but an extra work of laundry won't kill me nor will writing a letter. It may be a harsh punishment for you both but for someone who comes from the Three-fold land ... It's merely a slap on the wrist."

She then once again returned her head looking forward, not really looking at the Mistress or at Roh. After being a year in the Tower she still hadn’t been able to get that sort of home feeling that most Novices talked about, she wished that she could use the One Power more than she was allowed as classes now seemed a little easy for her and was most of the time was no longer a challenge. She now remained silent not wanting to say anything else at the moment until she was spoken too.

[Talina Thornia]

"That is nice of you to offer Talina but an extra work of laundry won't kill me nor will writing a letter. It may be a harsh punishment for you both but for someone who comes from the Three-fold land ... It's merely a slap on the wrist."

Talina turned her head and shot the other girl a fiery look. She was well aware that they had gotten off lightly, curse Idrial's Aiel arrogance! Talina was having a hard time biting her tongue, she wanted to scream at the other girl. Just because she didn't come from the 'three fold land' did not mean she was unaware of how lightly they were getting off and it didn't automatically mean that Idrial was stronger or tougher than she was. She'd like to see Idrial try to tumble constantly for hours in front of lords and ladies who held little concern for the performer's exhaustion and always requested the hardest of runs. But no, if she voiced that to the Aiel girl no doubt there would be some way by which, even having never tried it Idrial would think herself better. The Aiel were so arrogant!

Talina knew herself she would find no problem in completing the task Rhynnan had set, it would probably even be more a joy than anything else as extra chores helped when it came to keeping her stupid adrenalin at bay. Granted, she wouldn't have as much time to tumble but with working on the performance for the novices she wouldn't need to worry about that as tumbling would be part of fulfilling the punishment. She took a deep breath and turned her head back to Rhynnan, forcing herself not to make comment. She would show her true strength by biting her tongue and waiting for the Mistress of Novices to speak.

(Ooc- actually just bumping this thread again... I don't think any of us novices will be replying again)