§~*~*~*~Xéia Loragán~*~*~*~§

I am Xéia Loragán, Aes Sedai of the Brown Ajah, from Comelle, in what you now call the "Age of Legends." My mother, Kierin Nemendra Loragán, is an Aes Sedai on the Hall of Servants in Paaran Disen. My father, Rodrin Hammel Loragán, is also Aes Sedai and a member of the parliament, also in Paaran Disen. As you can imagine, my parents spent most of their time there, while I stayed at the beautiful coastal city of Comelle. My older sister Fanya Loragán, also an Aes Sedai, took care of me. She is responsible for the first part of my training.

My life centered around the Aes Sedai during my childhood years. Fanya was the one who "discovered" I could channel, or rather happened to be around when my ability first manifested itself. I was fifteen at the time. ::blushes:: I was out for a walk out in the city with Fanya, when I spotted a handsome looking boy of about seventeen years. Naturally, I wanted him to look at me and come over to me (I was wearing a rather revealing dress, similar to what your Domani women wear), and I wanted it to happen so much that…he looked. And naturally, I made a complete fool of myself, stammering and blushing staring at my feet, until Fanya took me by the arm and led me away. ::coughs and looks up, and regains composure:: Anyhow, I suppose that was why she felt responsible to take on my training for the first part of my early years, and for taking care of me when my mother and father were away. I never knew I could channel until then. My family knew that I would eventually touch the Source whether I wanted to or not, but not I. I guess they wanted to let me find out for myself; that was always the way with me.

Fanya took me through the first few months, and taught me how to touch the source at will. She figured out my Talents (Illusion, Dreaming, Foretelling, Pattern Reading, and Traveling (though back then it wasn't considered a real Talent because it was so common)), and taught me the dangers of the One Power. No wonder I was closer to her than my real mother.

Three things I have always loved to do are make music, read, create. When I say, "create," I mean create anything. Songs, poems, stories, clothing, and many other things. Reading is also something I love to do. I will read anything I can get my hands on. I believe I will be the only person to have read the entire Tower Library. Music is something I have grown up with. My father taught me to play the flute when I was a very young girl of four. He would sit down with me for hours at a time, either actually teaching me, or sitting back and relaxing to the sound I produced. He also taught me the harp, but I am not as good on it, proven by the fact he gave up when all the songs I played weren't played that well. Of course, I was only seven then; perhaps I would be better now. My mother taught me to use my voice in song. I can never match my mother. She is famous throughout Comelle and Paaran Disen for her voice, and in many other cities. This is more of a thing I do for fun, and aren't too serious about, while playing the flute is something I take very seriously.

I suppose I should tell you what I look like. I'm about as tall as one of the Aiel women, though I don't look like them. I have long dark brown hair that falls to my waist. I like to see how many different ways I can put it up or how many different styles I can twist my hair into: most of the time it's down, in braids or in buns because it's easier to manage. My eyes are a liquid brown color, and they are large. I inherited those from my father, so I have him to blame for them. ::smiles:: They actually don't make my look face ugly, though he always thought I should have gotten Mother's green eyes. My nose is small, along with my mouth. My ears also look nice, especially with gold rings in them. Fanya let me get them pierced when Mother was away; Father didn't care too much. I am slender, but not stick-thin, and have a nice figure, according to my mother. "A real pleasure you'll be for some man!" she'd say. I didn't believe it. I am very graceful, and described as "willowy." So, I am beautiful (though I don't care much for beauty).

I am very independent (or stubborn, my sister would say), though I prefer the first. I am intelligent, creative, impulsive, and optimistic…well, some of the time anyway. I prefer to be in the company of a few friends as well as being alone. I am also quick to anger. The littlest things set me off, though I can see reason after I cool down and usually only then. I have a very inquisitive nature; I am always asking "why" or "how", and I always try to find the answers to my questions.

Let's just get one thing straight: I have never seen an Aes Sedai fly with my own eyes.

Here's how I arrived at the White Tower:

I sat curled up in a chair on the far side of the room near the window, finishing my gown late at night. A small lamp illuminated the area surrounding me, allowing just enough light shine for me to see what I was sewing. My long slim fingers delicately worked the needle, pulling the nearly invisible thread through the silk, and through again, repeatedly until I was lost in the monotony of the work. It was something to keep me occupied while the rest of the city slept peacefully-something I felt I would never do again unless the dreams ceased coming. I knew they were merely dreams, nothing to be frightened of, and something a Dreamer would experience, but they seemed so real to me.

I sighed, knotted the last thread, and pulled it free of the needle. Having completed my dress, I gently shook it out, and then rose to try it on before putting it away for tomorrow. I carefully slipped the garment over my head, took the lamp, and walked across the room. After setting the lamp down on a small table beside the mirror, I straightened, and examined myself from every angle.

The dress, made from white streith, fitted my tall figure perfectly. The gown covered me entirely from head to foot. It hung lightly from my shoulders, and at the waist, just below the sash, the silk stopped following the contours of my body and instead flowed freely down to the floor, billowing out to either side of me.

At the sight of myself in the mirror, my large brown eyes, heavily lined, partly from working in the dim light and partly from exhaustion, softened noticeably, making me appear less tired. I smiled, tilting her head slightly to the right, and my reflection smiled back at me, as if she too, were pleased with Xéia in her new gown. My normally dark brown hair now shone with a more reddish hue than usual, cascading down my back nearly to my waist.

With a yawn, I decided to get some amount of sleep, no matter how little. I was half out of my dress when a tentative knock came from outside my chamber. Hurriedly, I got myself back into the dress, picked up the lamp, strode silently over to the door, and opened it a crack. I didn't worry about the visitor being an intruder, as there were many guards stationed throughout various sections within the house, even at either ends of the corridor. But I did wonder who would be out of bed at this hour of the night.

I poked my head through the narrow opening the door made, before opening the door the rest of the way. I found my mother standing there, Kierin Nemendra Loragán, an Aes Sedai. I opened the door the rest of the way, and Kierin glided smoothly inside. She sat in the chair by the window, and beckoned me to sit near her. I walked over to her, knelt by her feet, and laid my head in my mother's lap. Kierin began to smooth my hair. "Xéia," she began, "you look absolutely lovely in that beautiful dress. Did you just finish it?"

At that, I got up, turned on the glowbulb that hung from the ceiling, and extinguished the candle. I stood in front of my mother and twirled around on tiptoe, showing Kierin every aspect of the dress. "Do you really like it? I do. It looks even better than I thought it would!" The dress showed my pleasure. One of the unusual properties of streith was that it changed opacity and color to suit the wearer's mood. Now, it dress was a pale whitish rose color. "And yes, I did finish it tonight. I couldn't fall back asleep after the dream I had."

"Are the dreams back again?"

"Well, it's more like this one dream. I keep having it over, and over, and over again. Yet, when I wake up, I have know idea what it was about, only that it keeps on repeating."

"We already know you are a Dreamer, and it's about time for you to go to Paaran Disen with me. There, you might be able to solve the problem on this dream. And, I think it is about time for you to start your training as an Aes Sedai, and I mean really training. Fanya's been doing a wonderful job, but you do need formal training."

I ran to my mother and knelt beside her. "Do you really think I could? I mean, I won't have to stay here in Comelle and train at the Aes Sedai chapterhouse here when you and leave for Paaran Disen?"

"You'll not stay here this time. Although, you won't get to see me very often, since I'm on the Hall of the Servants. And you won't see Father very often, since he's on the parliament. But that won't matter. You'll be very busy becoming a Aes Sedai, and a fine one at that."

"When, do you think, could we leave?"

"Well, I'm off until the day after tomorrow, so that's when we'll leave. We'll go by Portal Stone. That's how I was brought to the Aes Sedai, so I think I will do that with you too."

"You know, I have always wanted to work at Collam Daan in V'saine. I think it would be so lovely there, with the Sharom and all." My face took on a distant look as I imagined what it would be like. I was thinking of all the mysteries waiting to be solved that lay hidden there. "Being able to research all that technology and everything else."

"Yes, that's wonderful. You'd better get some sleep, if you want to go."

"Of course. Goodnight Mother. I love you."

"Goodnight Xéia. I love you too."

Kierin left the room. I undressed, and went into the next room, my sleeping chamber. I crawled into bed, and fell asleep quickly, and had nothing but good dreams.

Two days later, Kierin and I were at the Portal Stone at dawn. I wore my new dress, and carried with me a small pack of clothing, and my personal belongings. Kierin carried nothing but the clothes on her back, for she traveled so often between Paaran Disen and Comelle, she didn't need to carry anything, because both she considered home.

"Alright Xéia," Kierin said, taking a deep breath. "Hang on to me."

I placed my right hand on her mother's back, while my left hand clenched my pack.

"No, I mean hang on to me. I don't want to lose you."

I instead grabbed an arm, and gripped it tightly. "Are you sure this is safe? Shouldn't we take a sho-wing?"

"It is perfectly safe, and it takes much less time. Besides, it's a family tradition. My mother brought me by a Portal Stone, as did her mother, and her mother before her. Trust me."

"I trust you but…" I couldn't put into words the apprehension she felt, or the nervousness. Instead, I gripped my mother's arm even tighter, while Kierin placed her hands on two symbols, neither of which I could see very clearly. It looked to me like a chora tree, and various geometric shapes intertwined with each other. Kierin took another deep breath, and began to draw on saidar, the female half of the True Source.

It seemed to me that the world had suddenly dropped from underneath my feet. I could no longer feel my mother in my hand, although I knew she was there next to me. But something went wrong. Something wrenched me away from my mother, and I could tell my mother was no longer there beside me. There was a blinding light, and I shut her eyes, screaming my mother's name. "Mother! Mother!" I screamed. "Stop channeling! Stop it! It's my dream, Mother! It's just like my dream! Please stop! Please!" I was frightened now, and tears ran down my cheeks. I remembered the dream now, vividly, and I knew that if my mother didn't stop channeling, I would fall forever in the void.

Abruptly, the light stopped, and I fell against the ground with a thud. I lay still for a long time; it was too painful to move. Every muscle and bone in my body ached, and it seemed better to lie still. When I did move, I sat up and opened my eyes. Sunlight blazed in my vision, and I squinted into the bright light. "Mother?" I called. No answer. I stood up slowly and looked around. Dizziness washed over me, and I lay back down. Once I felt better, I stood up and called again, more loudly than before. Still no answer. I looked at the Portal Stone, half buried under rock, sand, and vegetation. I shook my head. I couldn't go back that way. I couldn't channel the One Power efficiently yet, and I couldn't find the symbols my mother had used. I sat down and curled myself up into a ball, with my head on my knees. I didn't know where I was, when I was, or anything about my surroundings.

After a while, I realized I was hungry. I searched around and found my pack further into the woods. I picked it up and changed into a green dress, and carefully folded my new one and put it back in the pack. As I was looking up from picking it up again, I saw a campsite. My breath caught in my throat as I thought Perhaps they might be able to help me!

Two women sat talking softly together, apparently taking a rest before they continued on their journey. As I made my way towards them, a huge man whose cloak seemed to melt into its surroundings stopped me Fancloth! I thought. Maybe I'm not too far from home! But the man allowed for no speech. He roughly took my hands and placed them behind my back. He dragged me towards the two women. Without turning around, one of the women spoke.

"My Gaidin, who is it you have found snooping around our campsite?"

"I do not know. She was coming towards here. I thought it best to bring her to you."

At that, the woman turned around. The smooth cheeks immediately classified her as an Aes Sedai. As soon as I noticed that, I called out, "Aes Sedai! Can you please help me! I have gotten lost when my mother used the Portal Stone, and I need to find my way to Paaran Disen. Can you tell me where I am?"

By this time, both women, Aes Sedai, looked curiously at me. The one who first spoke, Corelle, spoke again. "She's speaking Old Tongue, Dinalle. I believe that's your department. I can barely catch what she is saying, just a few words here and there."

"I think she said she came here through a Portal Stone that her mother used, and she needed to get to Paaran Disen. She asked if we could help her, and if we could tell her where she is."

"Well, tell her. She can channel too, that one. Also, ask for her name."

"First, tell your Gaidin to release her. She's probably scared out of her wits right now, and that's not helping." Corelle nodded, and he released me. "Good. Now, girl. You are in the country called Cairhien. What are you called? I am called Dinalle, and an Aes Sedai, and this is Corelle, also an Aes Sedai. Are you aware you can channel? Do you know where your mother is?"

"I am Xéia Loragán, and my mother is Kierin Nemendra Loragán, an Aes Sedai and member of the Hall of the Servants. My father is Rodrin Hammel Loragán, an Aes Sedai and a member of the parliament in Paaran Disen. My mother and I were going to Paaran Disen. I was to begin my training as an Aes Sedai there. And I don't know where my mother is."

As Dinalle was relaying this information to Corelle, I couldn't help but think what had happened to me. This land was so different. Near the Portal Stone in Comelle, you could smell the ocean and taste the salt. You could hear the seabirds call to each other and see them swoop in large graceful arcs. Here, there were woods everywhere, small birds chirping, and Cairhien. I had never before heard of Cairhien. And these Aes Sedai speaking this different language. Why were they in the woods anyhow? If they needed to travel somewhere, they could easily open a gateway and Travel or Skim, or could use the jo-cars and sho-wings. Why horses?

"Her father is an Aes Sedai, or so she says! I'm telling you the truth. Her mother is on the Hall of the Servants and her father is an Aes Sedai!" Dinalle told Corelle animatedly, waving her arms about as gestures.

"I am quite certain there is no one named Kierin on the Hall of the Tower. And her father can't be an Aes Sedai. And, there have been no male Aes Sedai since the Breaking." Corelle, a White who was always skeptical, wore a look of open disbelief on her face.

"I know there's no one named Kierin on the Hall of the Tower-I'm talking about the Hall of the Servants. It existed in the Age of Legends." Dinalle retorted. Being a Brown, she knew more about the Age of Legends than most other Aes Sedai did. "Think about it: she came here through a Portal Stone, her father is Aes Sedai, her mother is on the Hall of the Servants, and she speaks Old Tongue-what more proof do you need that she is from the Age of Legends?"

"Well ask her something about the Age of Legends."

"I will. Xéia?" Dinalle began to speak in the Old Tongue.

"Yes Dinalle Sedai?"

"Do you know Lews Therin Telamon?"

"Not directly. I believe he is on the Hall of the Servants as well as my mother…I don't know too much more than that. Do you know of him, Aes Sedai?"

"Yes, he saved humanity by sealing up the Dark One's Prison almost 3000 years ago."

"You mean, this is the future?" I looked around me with more of an understanding than I had when I first came here.

"For you. It is the present for us."

"I can't ever get back home?"

"You'll have to learn to channel first, and learn our language."

"Teach me, please Dinalle Sedai! Oh, if it will get me home, I will do anything!"

Dinalle simply nodded, and for the first time that day, I smiled.

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