Three Arches (Solo Thread)

[Cadence]

Prologue

((OoC: This occurs in the past of the past lives timeline - just thought it would be fun to write Kira's arches))

Kira smiled as she finished her last story.  The novices watching applauded and laughed.  Listening to Kira sing and tell stories had become a sort of tradition for the girls on their very rare days off.  Kira got to perform, which she loved, and the other novices got some entertainment, which they loved. Shiro had stopped by to listen for a short time and Kira gave him a bright and appreciative smile.

Kira was about to perform her last song of the day when the Mistress of Novices arrived carrying a bundle.  Kira dropped into a deep curtsy. "Aes Sedai," she said, respectfully while praying to the Light that she didn't put a stop to these performances.  The girls really needed this outlet. 

"Kira, I heard you were singing today.  I wondered if you might perform a song for me," she said and opened the bundle she carried.

It was her harp.  It was the harp her father had given her so many years ago - a memory from before the White Tower.  It was well polished, and the strings were in good shape.  The harp had been maintained outside of her care. And the Mistress of Novices was offering it to her.  Kira was conflicted.  On one had, she had to obey the Aes Sedai.  On the other, she wasn't allowed to have this.  Not yet.

Kira decided to follow what she thought was right. "I'm so sorry, Aes Sedai," she said, making another curtsy.  "The rules do not allow me to have this harp.  I ask that it be kept in the possession of the White Tower until..." Kira hesitated, but only for a moment. "Until I wear the shawl of an Aes Sedai."

It was the first time she had said it.  It was the first time she had told anyone that she desired this.  As a novice, she was supposed to try to emulate the three oaths as much as possible.  Kira was not lying.  Since she had begun to heal, she had found a true family here.  The other novices weren't just friends.  They were her sisters.

"I can understand that," the Mistress of Novices said, wrapping the harp again. "I will continue to make sure this is taken care until it's owner is ready to reclaim it.

"Thank you, Aes Sedai.  If you would like, I would still be honored to sing a song for you,"

The Mistress of Novices agreed and Kira began to sing.  The melody was a known one, but the words were her own.

"The Aes Sedai went to town
To find herself a Warder
She saw a man there tall and strong
With a dozen bottles before him.

No! No! This one won't do
He drinks enough for me and you!
Go! Go! And search once more.
To find the one to shield you.

The song continued - a song of an Aes Sedai searching for the perfect warder.  The novices and the Aes Sedai listened and applauded as she finished. "Very good, Kira. Now," she clapped her hands drawing the attention of the Novices. "Free time is over - you all have chores to do.  Get to it!" A chorus of "Yes, Aes Sedai" and a multitude of curtsies met her words. "Kira, your assignment has been changed. You are to report to Aranea Sedai in the hospital wing."

Kira curtsied and replied, "Yes, Aes Sedai, Thank you!" and moved with haste to the hospital wing.

---

Kira found Aranea, Aes Sedai of the Yellow Ajah quickly. "Come, Kira, I have something for you to watch."

Kira had worked in the wing before.  She actually preferred to work here.  Her tasks weren't great - cleaning bed pans and laundering sheets and blankets mostly, but here she felt she made a difference.  Aranea led her to a bed.  A teenage boy laid on a bed, his arm misshapen from a break.  The boy's eyes looked glazed over.

"What do you see?

"Broken arm," Kira said, stating the obvious first. "Eyes unfocused - but no visible head injury. Kira thought about it for a moment, then smiled. "You gave him something to dull the pain. Aranea nodded. "I'd also check for a fever - may I?" Aranea granted permission and Kira felt the boy's forehead.  It felt normal.

"Just a broken arm.  The first time you channeled, you healed a broken arm, yes?" Kira nodded. "I'm going to show you what you did that day, but first - you will never - NEVER - try this weave without permission from myself or another member of the Yellow Ajah.  This is no party trick.  If you mess this up, you could kill someone.  Do you understand me?"

"Yes , Aes Sedai.

"Now, watch!

Kira saw the glow of Saidar surround Aranea and watched as she formed the weave.  Kira's mouth dropped.  It was complex.  As the weave settled into the boy, she saw him shiver.   She remembered her father doing the same.  When the weave was finished, the boy's arm was whole - as if it hadn't been broken.

"Kira, the healing weave draws upon the body's natural healing system.  There is a point where if you do this weave, they won't be able to survive it.  This is the most important thing to remember when healing.  You can't heal everything - no matter how much you want to." The Aes Sedai serentiy was in her face, but Kira could hear the slight tremble in her voice.  Aranea had experienced this - and it was a memory she would never forget. Now - bed pans need to be cleaned.  Get to work.

"Yes, Aes Sedai," she curtsied, moved to obey, but turned around again, a question in her mind. "Aranea Sedai - a question? Kira waited until she was given permission. "That weave - it wasn't simple.  How did I do it?

"You have a gift Kira. The hands of a healer to soothe the body, and the voice of a nightingale to soothe the soul.  I hope you will spend the time learning how to use those gifts fully.

---

That night, as Kira was getting ready for bed, a knock came to her door.  She was tired, and a little bit irritated at being disrupted.  It had been a long day.  Still she answered and saw the Mistress of Novices outside her door.  Come Kira - it is time for you to be tested."

((OoC - Set the words to the tune of Greensleeves, and you’ll know what Kira’s song sounds like))