Welcome to Gaia! ::

Wes hadn't expected the hug, his arms had just been out in complete honesty, but he squeezed her lightly in the short time they had embraced. She was still bashful about showing anything in public. As far as he knew, there were only rumors in the Tower of their relationship, as no one could prove anything. He didn't say anything to the sweetie comment, as she wouldn't really agree with his answer so instead he addressed the other comment. "You have no need to feel guilty, I know how much you like to read, and I live to make you happy." He said in a tone of simplicity and earnest.

"But Aes Sedai...you've hardly rested but a few hours...not even a day! You're not in good enough health to go anywhere!"

The innkeeper's wife remonstrated with Mercury in vain. Anyone who saw the woman could tell she wasn't in the best of health. Pale skin, bruises all over-not all visible-, a few bandages-one on her face; the woman shouldn't even have been out of bed! If possible, she looked even worse than she had when she first arrived; and she'd looked very fatigued when she first came a few days ago.

"I cannot stay Marin. I have to go attend to my duties at the Tower now that the Shadowspawn are gone from here. Do not fret over my sake; some fatigue is not the worst I've seen. Your money is on the table. Good day."

Grabbing the few things she'd brought, Mercury went down to the stables and rode out of town, in the direction of what the villagers said was the Waterwood. Once she was out of sight of the village, she stopped the horse and tried to touch saidar. It was there, but it refused to come under her control. She fought with it a moment before remembering to relax a little. Slowly, the One Power filled her; now came the using. She struggled with the weaves as much as she had with gaining the source before making a gateway. Not wanting to be seen, she made it to a corner of the back courtyard and inverted the weaves. As it appeared, she stepped through and let it shut.

She dismounted and wobbled a little, grabbing the reins for support. Shaking her head a little, she looked around the courtyard, and was surprised to see there were two others there- a man and a woman. It didn't seem as though she'd been noticed; she began making her way to the stables at a slow pace, trying to battle the exhaustion which came at her.

It was about an hour later when Vancelle put down her book and went to find Katerine. She knocked on the door, but received no answer so she entered the small sitting room. Vancelle saw Katerine on the bed through the door and went to wake her.

Always sleeping. That's the way to describe her. But that's only recently. She used to be so active; always running around doing something.

Katerine rolled over in her sleep and muttered something incoherent and Vancelle shook her slightly on the shoulder. The touch did nothing and Vancelle sighed.

"Katerine you need to wake up! I want to talk to you."

Katerine opened her eyes, but they were glazed over, feverish. Vancelle put a hand on her forehead and quickly pulled her hand off.

"You're running a fever! Why didn't you tell anyone."

Katerine opened her feverish eyes and looked at Vancelle.

"Elle stop yelling. You're hurting my head."

Vancelle lowered her voice by still continued to speak about her fever and it was bothering Katerine. Eventually she sat up at much expense to her strength and put a hand to her throbbing head.

"Vancelle, please stop. I'm fine. I'm just a little sick that is all."

Vancelle made a noncommittable sound to that and rolled her eyes.

"Vancelle, I mean it. Just let me sleep. I'll be fine tomorrow."

Once again, her friend muttered, but she did leave and left Katerine alone to sleep. Instead of sleeping though, Katerine got up and shakily walked to her window. From there she looked out at the city before going back to her bed.

I don't know what I have, but hopefully it will be gone come tomorrow. I think I have an idea for Nine that would make him a warder sooner than most.

Actually I have been following you. I saw you fight earlier and thought that I had seen you weaving saidar before then. What reason do you have for coming to the White Tower and why were you channeling? If I seem a trifle insistant on an answer it is only because I am surprised that you would have the audacity to act in such a manner where any passing Red sister could see you.

Watching the way that he moves while she talks Shanoa notices there is no trace of fear in his posture. For a man who can channel who is surrounded by Aes Sedai he seemed unnaturally calm, as if he had some sort of special protection. Walking closer to him she began to notice the same sort of confidence to his movements that the Gaidin have.

Could one of the Sisters have bonded him? But why would he allow that and who would be willing to risk the effects his eventual insanity would cause?

The mention of the Yellows brought her back to a semi-concious state of thought. If the Yellows saw her like this, she'd be locked in her bedroom for Light only knew how long. It then occured to her that someone was channeling..but it wasn't saidar. Forcing her eyes to focus, she roughly made out a blurry figure...it was a man..a male channeler..the image was too blurry to tell if she knew them or not.

She had to keep the Yellows from finding out...if the rest of the Tower knew this, her entire departure would become public knowledge. The last thing they needed was sisters realizing there were Shadowspawn in the outskirts of Andor...she'd never hear the end of it..and neither would the Amyrlin. And the deaths of Alena and Lathanam hadn't been revealed; the scandal it could cause. She had to tell whoever was in front of her to not take her to the Yellows, but did she have the strength to speak?

She coughed a little and in raspy whisper managed a few words. "Not...the Yello...go..to...Keeper..don..be..seen.."

She lapsed into a slight coughing fit and passed into complete unconciousness in a few moments.

Mog looked down in surprise, by all rights this woman should've been unconscious, it must've taken a desperate act of will to allow her to speak as she had. Obviously, he couldn't take her to the Yellows, not now. Her life might be in danger.. What could she fear from Aes Sedai? Especially those that were dedicated to healing? He had taken her well out of a danger to her health, however. the male Healing didn't take nearly as much out of you as he understood saidar Healing did, he had learned from the Healer at the Black Tower who had almost a Talent with Healing. Yurin, by no regard, considered himself equal, but he was more than passing, he was unsurpassed at combat Healing. He had saved many of his comrades in the many battles and skirmishes that he had usually, himself, led. But where to take her.. She mentioned something about the Keeper.. Did she want to be taken there? Light, he didn't want to make the wrong decision. Of course! The Amyrlin! She would know what to do, and who this woman was! Why hadn't that been his first thought? He still needed to get used to being a Warder. Perhaps that would come with time. He was still green in that regard.
Used to life and death decisions, Mog had all of these thoughts pass through his mind, yet only a breath passed in their contemplations, he made the decision and started heading for the Amyrlin's Study.

"I think we should take her to the Amyr-err, Clarissa. I am Bonded to her, after all. I'm assuming that this is a Sister, she came here for a reason, and I'm sure that the Amyr- Clarissa would like to know whatever has happened to this poor girl, she looks as if she took on Shayol Ghul by herself.."

Startled at his own analogy, seeing her, it brought back his own brushes with the Dark One's minions. He had fought Shadowspawn since he was old enough to wield a bow or sword, he knew what battle wounds looked like. This one was incredibly lucky that she hadn't contacted any of the cursed black blades of Myrdraal, or those poisoned by the Trollocs. But where had she come from? What had she been doing?
Seizing saidin, Yurin wove a Mask of Mirrors around the girl, hiding her from sight, inverting the weaves, by instinct, though few here would even be able to see them.. which raised an earlier query, how had this other Aes Sedai seen saidin? It was impossible.. Wasn't it? Questions and more questions. They seemed to be piling up, of late. Is this what it was like to be at the White Tower? Grinning softly to himself, Yurin decided that he was really going to like it here.. Too bad Fayela Sedai had to leave.. He was really starting to like her. He wondered at the Amy- Clarissa's thoughts on his thoughts.. Surely, she had an impression on him, after he had taken the Void earlier, he hadn't really felt anything from her.. Perhaps, she was sleeping. He hoped to find her sleeping in her Study. this would be a great way to wake her up!
Summoning a stablehand with a sharp whistle, Yurin gave over the hidden Sister's horse and made sure that it would be well taken care of, the stableboy gave him a suspicious look, apparently, her horse was known. The boy, however, didn't dare question an Asha'man.
Walking to the main dining area, he picked up a tray of food and a pitcher of fruit juice and water with Air, knowing that the hidden Aes Sedai in his arms would need it, and he felt hunger through the Bond, as well.. at least, he thought it was her.. He didn't think he was hungry, but he felt it all the same. Taking his rather full load, still holding his arms as if holding a burden that noone could see, and trailing the curious Aes Sedai that he still didn't know the name of, Yurin received many curious glances as he and his odd procession enetered the Keeper's main area.