This was the bio I did when I first joined the freelanders as Telcia at DM.
Telcia sat alone in her room. The day was hot and her head ached. She considered visiting the yellows to get something for it or done about it but the thought of being poked and prodded again didn’t seem too appealing. Ever since her return to the Tower the yellow sisters looked at her like she was some sort of pet project. Like she was under examination while she did even the simplest things. Telcia hated it.
The woman who looked back at her in the mirror was hardly the child who once stood before her. Telcia could imagine the agelessness settling in on herself though she knew it hadn’t done so yet. Touching her own cheek she began to wonder why ever she had considered any life other than this one before. Any life besides that of an Aes Sedai’s seemed alien now. A knock at the door brought her out from her state of self reflection.
“Come in.” Telcia rose. No one but an Aes Sedai would knock in such a way. The knock itself held command. When the door opened it was Mellyn who stood looking back at her. Telcia hadn’t seen Mellyn since her time in the infirmary after … IT had happened. The two had shared a moment but Telcia could find the heart to reach back and tell her all that she felt or explain the doubts that now clouded her mind. Doubts she never had considered before.
“Your presence is requested Telcia. Come with me.” Sighing Telcia followed Mellyn in silence until at last they came to a room in the Tower that was often used for meetings. Inside the Amyrlin Seat and her Keeper of the Chronicles stood waiting along side Liselle Sedai, Myriam Sedai, Arie Sedai, Muirenn Sedai, Ayrlin Sedai, and Nyneve Sedai. Mellyn moved from Telcia’s side to join her sisters as the Amyrlin produced a long slender white rod. Telcia swallowed and with shaking hands took hold of it. It felt like a dream as she looked into the Amyrlin’s eyes and spoke softly.
“Under the Light, I vow to speak no word that is not true.” The oath began taking hold immediately. Like bonds tightening around her body. Telcia grew nervous and paused as she felt it, immediately remembering what it had once felt like to be bound by something else. Fear and excitement grew in her as she pushed forward. “Under the Light, I vow to make no weapon for one man to kill another.” Light! “Under the Light, I vow not to use the One Power as a weapon except against Shadowspawn, or in the last defense of my life, the life of my Warder, or that of another Sister.” Telcia let out a ragged breath as the last oath sealed her to the Tower in the most final way. Her skin prickled and tightened and she knew now that all she had worked for had finally come to fruitation.
Muirenn’s eyes seem to bore into her. She could feel her without even looking at her. However it wasn’t Muirenn that puzzled Telcia , it was Mellyn and Arette whose eyes seemed full of… worry? Why under the Light are they worried? The Amyrlin turned to her retaking the oath rod. “Welcome Daughter.” She held Telcia’s shoulders in her hands as if hugging her. Even the Amyrlin seemed … concerned?
“Thank you Mother.” The other Sisters smiled and congratulated her welcoming her and at last dismissing her to her next task. The biggest choice of all.
*****
Telcia stood in the center of the great corridor that lead down to each Ajah’s quarters. To her right the long hallway of oaken doors. Beautiful in their simplicity, like the Brown sisters themselves. The smell of old tomes and day old ink made her smile. To her left the opulent hallway of carved doors that seemed permeated with the smell of fresh roses. The Red Sisters’ hall was much like themselves, proud and strong. She had been standing there since she left the room. Many sisters walked past her eyeing the great serpent ring that had now moved to her other hand. They knew why she was standing there. Long ago she had planned it out so perfectly. She knew what she wanted to do but now… that was all different. Now she had left behind fanciful thoughts of childhood and realized just how much danger the world was really in. Not only were men dangerous and horrible creatures but some of them had the One Power and the ability to use it to whatever vile ends they’d conceive of.
What would HE have done to me if he could have channeled? Telcia imagined the man who had taken her purity from her with the abilities to destroy with a thought. Arie, Muirenn, her and many others could have died that night if he had use of the One Power. I’ll never feel that helpless again! She gripped her fists so tight that her knuckles went white with rage. Her body shook and she wanted to cry. I’m powerful… I can stop men like that from hurting any one ever again. To choose the Browns and dedicate my life to learning instead of protecting would be a waste. Telcia glanced down the long hallway of the Browns. Wouldn’t it? It was like being torn in two. Part of her wanted to be with the women she’d come to love… Arette, Mellyn, even the Amyrlin herself though she was of all Ajahs and none now. The Reds held Muirenn, her real family, the last of it. Rubbing her temples she knelt down on the large marble flame that was sealed into the shinning floor. There she prayed to the Light to guide her and after a time rose with determination. I can’t put this off forever. I must decide.
“You there. Accepted. I don’t think we’ve met… that’s just as well. I have a task for you. Go into the gardens and find a single Tea Rose bud. A red one. Deliver it to a Tower Guard by the name of Estaban Diego with the message.” Telcia took a breath and gave one last look to the Brown Ajah’s hall. All dreams of the life she wanted before died as she spoke. “I’m sorry.” She let go of a ragged breath. Estaban would have been her choice if she could stomach to be near a man for more than a moment now. Even he she now questioned mentally. It was so hard not to. She couldn’t bond any man knowing how she felt inside, it wouldn’t have been right. This decision would take that problem away.
“Is that all Aes Sedai?” The Accepted quarried eyeing her ring. Telcia smiled.
“Aes Sedai… no. That will be all. I think he’ll understand.” As the Accepted ran off towards the gardens Telcia made her way to Muirenn’s door and knocked. Obviously she had returned long ago.
“Muirenn Sedai, I’ve come to petition the Red Ajah for acceptance.”
