Wheel of Time MUD

For several months, Robinn spent all her free time wrestling with her self. Her self-control, her emotions, and more importantly her sense of self-worth. Lirene Sedai did her best to encourage the young woman, but combating trollocs is wildly different from alleviating the doubt and feelings of being an imposter in the mind and heart of an Accepted, even one with the skills and natural talent Robinn possessed.

"I can't do it Lirene Sedai! Every time I try, I fail, and with every failure I feel more and more as though I don't belong here. And I know, Lirene Sedai, I know you wouldn't have brought me here if you didn't believe I had the potential. You've told me time and again, and I must believe it, but my heart just will not listen to my head." she says, tears rolling silently down her cheeks as her frustration finally finds its way through the walls Robinn had so carefully erected.

"Hush, child, hush." Lirene says calmly. "You know I believe in you, but knowing and [i]believing[/i] are not the same. Your confidence is shaken, and that is normal. Yes, you have had failures. And yes, you have had set backs, as we all have. But that is no excuse to feel pity for yourself. You [i]must[/i] comport yourself as an Aes Sedai would, child. Do you think I sit here and weep if something is hard, or I run into trouble? Did the ones who came before us weep when the Dark One shattered the world? No. Well, perhaps a few did, but they all stood strong, together, and sought to strengthen what was left and rebuild. So too will you. You will stand up, and you will strive for your future, rather than weeping for your past."

Robinn sniffed, emotions seeming to drain out of her like water from a cracked pot. Lirene Sedai’s words, though firm, held a core of warmth that seeped into the cracks in her resolve, shoring it up like sand bags in a flood. It wasn't the honeyed comfort she might have sought in Reedspring, but a sterner sort of nourishment, the kind that helped you stand straighter even when your legs trembled.

"But… but what if I can't?" The words were barely a whisper, a last desperate plea against a crashing wave of self-doubt.

Lirene’s gaze softened, though its intensity remained. "Then you will try again, Robinn Sena. And again. Until you can. Do you think the Wheel weaves only perfect patterns? No. There are snags, and knots, and threads that break. But the weaving continues. You are a thread, Robinn, and you have a purpose in the Pattern. It is not for you to decide if you are worthy of it, but to embrace the task set before you."

She reached out, her touch surprisingly gentle as she cupped Robinn’s chin, tilting her face upwards. "Look at me, child. Have I ever steered you wrong? Have I asked anything of you that I did not believe you capable of?"

Robinn shook her head slowly, her gaze locked on the Aes Sedai’s unwavering eyes.

"Then trust me now. Trust the Power that flows within you. Trust the Pattern that brought you here. You are stronger than you believe, Robinn. The fire dances erratically now, but with patience and discipline, you will teach it to obey your will. You will become the weaver, not the tangled thread."

Lirene released her, stepping back slightly. "Now. Dry your eyes. There is work to be done. The Light does not wait for tears to dry, and neither will your training."

Robinn took a shaky breath, the Aes Sedai’s words settling within her like a newly planted seed, fragile but holding the promise of growth. The tears still clung to her lashes, but the despair that had birthed them had begun to recede. She looked at Lirene, a flicker of determination rekindling in her eyes.

"What… what should I do, Lirene Sedai?"

A small, almost imperceptible smile touched the corners of Lirene’s lips. "You will begin again, Accepted. You will feel the Source, and you will weave. And this time, you will remember that even the strongest steel is forged in fire, tempered by countless blows."

Robinn nodded, a newfound resolve hardening her gaze. The path ahead still seemed daunting, the failures still stung, but for the first time in a long while, she felt a glimmer of hope, a fragile belief that perhaps, just perhaps, she could indeed become who Lirene Sedai saw within her. She would face the fire again, not with fear, but with the stubborn tenacity of a Reedspring farmer determined to see her crops through the harshest winter.

[b][i]The End[/i][/b]

Robinn hears a knock at her door a moment before a scribe enters, face flushed, a look of impatience on her features. "Accepted Robinn, Lirene Sedai wishes to see you in the gardens." she says in a tone some might uncharitably call curt, before turning on a heel and leaving. Robinn swiftly packs up her necessary belongings-- a brush, her leather-bound notebook, a couple quills and several vials of variously colored inks-- then heads off to meet Lirene Sedai at her favorite spot of late.

Lirene is sitting by the stream, staring into the aether, seemingly heedless of the world around her, let alone the Accepted who stood behind her. After a moment, Lirene Sedai turned to face Robinn-- who bobs a quick but precise curtsey. The Aes Sedai is before her is the very picture of serenity as she gestures for the Accepted to sit with her. "Show me your progress Robinn."

"Of course, Lirene Sedai." As she begins weaving a protective barrier around the two, Lirene embraces saidar and deftly slices it apart.

"Do not use crutches Robinn. If you ward us against the flames, you have already lost control of them. You have told yourself you will fail, making it a self fulfilling prophesy. 'One often meets her destiny on the road she takes to avoid it.'" She gestures for Robinn to continue.

Robinn composes herself, closing her eyes and breathing deeply, counting to ten before reopening them and starting anew, forgoing her usual precautions.

Threads of fire, water, earth, air and spirit wend themselves around her into several distinct groupings, all similar but with slight variations. As they coalesce into being the orbs flicker, threatening to fall apart once again and in a similarly catastrophic manner, but she breathes, keeping her mind and focus steady, and in turn the weave follows suit.

She sits there, studying her work critically. It's not the most elegant weave, nor the most organized, amd the colors are pale and washed out, but it is steady.

"It needs work, but this is an excellent start. You have more work ahead of you, but you did well. I look forward to seeing you continue. You may return to your quarters."
"Thank you Lirene Sedai. I will strive not to disappoint you." Robinn says as she drops into another curtsey before leaving.

[i]To be Continued[/i]

Robinn sits in the gardens once more, listening and meditating to the gentle susurration of the stream as it wends its way past the base of the Tower. She breathes rhythmically, in through the mouth.. 2..3..4.. and exhales.. 2..3..4.. as she embraces the Source, and weaves a protective barrier around herself, a carefully woven flow of Earth, Air, and Water forming an aura around her body before she begins.

Her fingers tingle with anticipation as she begins to weave. The threads of the One Power spiral around her, coming together in a lacework as intricate as any the Wisdom in her old town wove for feast day gifts.

She focuses on the image of a ring of multicolored fireballs, each one with a vibrant energy. With a deep breath, she channels the power, shaping it into the desired form.

Within moments, the fire ignites a small spark that grows rapidly into a flame. But as she tries to shape it, something goes wrong. The fire flickers and dances, growing more erratic, the colors beginning to bleed into one another, creating a chaotic, swirling mass of energy.

Panic flashes within her, a surge of irrational fear that threatens to consume her. She tries, vainly, to regain control, to steady her breath and force the weaves back into place, but it's too late. The orbs explode in a series of small but blinding flashes of light and heat. The protective barrier around her shimmers and warps, barely holding against the rapidly vanishing flames.

Robinn is thrown backward, her body slamming into the cold, unforgiving ground. She lies there, breathless and stunned, her ears ringin as the fire dissipates, a few charred patches of grass the only indication of yet another botched attempt. She sits up slowly, her head pounding, the bitter taste of yet another failure in her mouth and smiles wryly.

She rises to her feet, dusting herself off. She knows that she will try again, and again, until she masters the weave. She will learn to control her emotions.

[i]To be Continued[/i]

A great start, I can't wait for more!

[i]The following is intended to be a series of posts used as an exercise to help me improve my creative writing skills.

!!Please do [b]not[/b] grade until [b][u]The End[/u][/b] is posted!![/i]

Robinn sat on her bed, a small lap desk sat before her as she flipped through her notes, examining the intricate diagrams of various weaves, the threads colored to indicate which of the five elements they are. There are several diagrams of varying forms of light balls for example, or how to create a ball of colored fire, or a few that she had concluded could be used for bathing. Finally, she closes the book, sliding it into her belt pouch before leaving her room, venturing to the gardens near the Warders practice yard, wandering along the stream until coming across another occupant.


"Apologies Lirene Sedai, I was unaware you were here. I'll leave you to your peace."


As she backs away to leave, Lirene Fiore, standing only a few inches taller than Robinn herself now, glances over from the water, eyes taking in the young bespectacled woman before a small smile cracks her features, dark hair settled loosely across her back, a white shawl settled across her shoulders and looped around her arms. She beckons the Accepted forward with one hand.


"No need Accepted. I know you only come down here when you have something to ponder and cannot quite get a grasp on the entirety. You may as well come here and tell me what is on your mind. Perhaps in the telling, you can better come to grips with this quandary and thus discover your solution. Sit, and we will discuss."


Robinn, knowing that arguing with her was less than pointless, strode back and sat beside the Aes Sedai.


Robinn sighed, her fingers fidgeting nervously. "I've been trying to perfect a weave for a small ring of fireballs, each a different color. It's... frustrating. The weaves are... finicky. One wrong thread, and the whole thing unravels.. or worse, blows up in my face." Robinn rubs at her left eyebrow, remembering the scent of scorched hair and her odd appearance that had lasted a few weeks, much to her embarrassment.

Lirene smiled knowingly. "A delicate balance, isn't it? A volatile element, Fire, and one that must be tempered with the earth's grounding energy. The colors, a reflection of the air's fluidity and the water's depth. And all of it, held together by the strength of the spirit."

Robinn nodded, her eyes widening slightly. "Exactly! But it's so... difficult to maintain. The colors flicker and fade, the ring wavers and threatens to disperse."

"Patience, Accepted," Lirene said gently. "Such power requires precision and focus. You must learn to master your emotions, not allow them to overwhelm you. Anger, frustration, even joy, can disrupt the delicate balance. But when you learn to control these emotions, they can become a powerful tool."

Robinn thought for a moment. "So, it's not just about the weave itself, but about my own state of mind?"

Lirene smiled. "Precisely. The Aes Sedai are more than just wielders of the One Power. We are guardians of balance, protectors of the world. And to do that, we must first master ourselves."

Robinn felt a realization surge within her. The challenge, the responsibility, the power – it was all facets of the same thing. She could see herself, not just as a woman with a talent for weaving the One Power, but as a force for good, a guardian of the world.

"Thank you, Lirene Sedai," she said, her voice filled with newfound determination. "I will continue to practice. I will learn to master my emotions and my weaves."

Lirene nodded, her eyes flickered with what might be pride for the young woman before her. "I have no doubt that you will, Accepted. You have the potential to be a great Aes Sedai."

[i]To Be Continued.[/i]