Under Guard

[Natalie Grey]

Aileen Sedai of the Green Ajah

Returning to the Black Tower always brought mixed feelings. Echoes from the past always seemed to want to mix with the present. Like shadows flickering just at the corners of your vision. Aileen almost felt as though she could hear them if she listened hard enough. Aileen looked across the yard and saw a crowd gathered. She couldn't hear above the din precisely what had drawn it, but given where she was standing, she could guess. Such gatherings had occurred often enough.

Aileen moved closer towards the crowd to see if she could get a better look at what was happening. Some of the men gathered there paid her little heed, others moved. A few gave her a nod of recognition. As a child, Aileen had spent a fair amount of time at the training grounds watching the men as the practiced. This area, though more dangerous than the others, was also the most exciting. Ifan always meant to keep his daughter from all of this, and she did her best to follow his instructions, but it was difficult to stay away. Aileen loved to watch the men practice the sword and often longed to join them. Even watching them channel didn't frighten her. She had a child's belief that all was right and she would always be safe in her home. Experience would teach her that this was not the case. Still, there was a comfort to being back among the men here.

Aileen's long dark hair was pulled back in a braid and she was wearing a dark green dress, with black vines embroidered on the sleeves and bodice, split for riding despite her discomfort with horses. It was less scandalous than the men's styled trousers she wore when she trained, but still gave her ease of movement. Now she was no longer one of the children who called the Black Tower home, she was Aes Sedai and the responsibilities of that weighed on her as she imagined it did all her Sisters.

As she grew closer she saw something that surprised her though nothing showed on her face. It took her a long time to school her face not to show what she was feeling and now the only thing that that gave away her surprise was a slight turn up of an eyebrow, barely noticeable. Lennox wearing Asha'man black? What else had she missed while fighting along the Blight borders? There was another man whose movements were slow and clumsy and yet he was trying to hold his own against him. The fight did not take much time. The other man was being pummeled mercilessly. Aileen did not know the reason for the beating and men often chose to prove themselves at the lease opportune times. None of the blows appeared to be permanently debilitating, which was good. The Tower could not afford to lose any men. Such deliberate coldness from Lennox Orander was surprising. This was not the man Aileen remembered from her early days at the White Tower.

Lennox left the area without as much as a backwards glance at the man on the ground and another Asha'man moved forward to help. She heard him tell the injured man that it was going to be cold and she realized that he was likely going to Heal the injured man. Not having much talent for Healing Aileen could offer little assistance, but she stayed in case there was some other help she could offer. Aileen had learned a few things from Yellows about more mundane methods of treating injuries and she'd learned a fair bit of battlefield medicine. Though she couldn't help everyone. She pushed the memory back as she waited for the Asha'man to tend to the injured man.