<span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline">The Garden </span></span></span><br/><br/>For a moment their eyes met… for a brief moment the world stood still and he was neither here nor their… he was just with Illia, for a moment all the honor and the vows and ajahs didn’t matter at all!<br/><br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline">"Ilia! There you are!" An Accepted's voice</span></span><br/><br/>The shrill female voice felt as if he had just fallen to mountain river fed by glacial water.  All at once Shadow regained his herring and glanced away pretending as if he had found something interesting to look up at the sky… ignoring the plead for more time, his eyes now darting frantically for a way to escape.… too late!<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline">"Oh, you're Shadow, aren't you?" </span></span><br/><br/>Shadow winced at the sound of his own name and hesitantly turned half expecting more chores, half expecting to Illia spill the beans to her dearest bosom friend that he could talk…but when he glanced over to where she had been, to silently plead that she keep their secret…Illia was already gone and he was trapped!<br/><br/>His eyes quickly stopped Ilia’s embroidery basket and hoop! For some reason… he didn’t know why but he felt oddly protective over it. At once Shadow pointed up to the sky!<br/><br/>Mari turned her eyes widened and she clasped her hands together. “Oh a falcon! You have such keen eyes shadow!” she exclaimed…but when she turned back to look at Shadow she saw him smiling holding out a daisy his hand.<br/><br/>“For me?” she gasped in surprise.  Shadow grinned and offered to put it in her hair. Mari made a giddy little hop forward, and at Shadow’s beckoning closed her eyes…<br/><br/>With slight of hand Shadow found switched out the daisy… for a dried out twig. Ever so gently he stuck into the accepted’s hair like feather, but really it looked more so like small cotton candy confection on a stick like a one might get a during a festival…accept this fluffy grey cloud was not cotton candy, but the web and hob of a tiny little black spider!<br/><br/>Eyes still closed, Mari leaned forward with puckered lips… Taking his moment, Shadow snatched the set the embroider hoop and basket into Mari’s hands… and then bolted with a running fantastic leap he scaled over tope the low hanging ivy covered garden walls and vanished out of sight.<br/><br/>Mari’s eyes fluttered open and she glanced about in confused and glanced at Ilia’s basket and stamped her foot. “Oh fiddle sticks!” she sighed as she walked over to the accepted quarters beaming happily, her head up showing off the flower Shadow had given her… and then it happened….<br/><br/>Tabetha…young freckle faces girl, deathly afraid of spiders screamed!<br/><br/>—<br/><br/>Shadow was not there to see it… but he did here a shrill blood curdling scream! the likes that sent both Aes Sedai and their warders running… he grinned and turned just in time to huge fireball blast out the window! followed billows of black smoke! more shrill girlish screaming and angry shouts from the Aes Sedai sisters!  Shadow’s grin fell, his eye widened and he quickly turned. He never really thought the Accepted or novices to be so dangerous! He remember laughing along with the other Cadets when Cadre Coulin had told them:<br/><br/>*Lads…you might think you are protecting your Ward against a village…but in reality you are protecting the Village from the Aes Sedai… trust me, some of these ladies can level cities before you can draw your sword! Seek to avoid conflict whenever possible if you can… and when you can’t, deal with quickly without making a scene,*<br/><br/><br/><br/>….Gently caressing the embroider handkerchief with his thumb, trying to figure out when and how he was going to give it to her…  Wait what was he doing? His ears reddened as he began wondering where he was going to hide it! Why was he hiding it? What was he doing with it!<br/><br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;">Back at the Barracks</span></span></span><br/><br/>When he walked into the barracks, his roommate and battle buddy looked from his book.<br/><br/>“Oh Shadow you are back! thats relief! everyone was looking for you and Lan said to give this back to too you,”  Moe exclaimed excitedly pointing the large coin purse of silver coins that he had won on the night stand… and foolishly gambled away in a duel with Lan only hours ago… fortunately it had resulted in a  double hit, so Lan techniquely hadn’t won…and perhaps felt a little bad for splitting his head open.<br/><br/>Moe was a big broad fellow, with dark curly brown hair and freckled face and friendly smile.   Although he was bit heavy set, he was strong as an ox and descriptively fast… the book in his large hands looked puny in comparison!  Moe liked books, and publicly toted his love for the Brown Ajah…<br/><br/>Shadow glanced at his bed which he his foot chest hand been emptied out.  “Oh! yea, the Aes Sedai were here again, what did you do this time? What’s with the red scarf?” he asked, “I thought they were going to put me to the question!”  he exclaimed. Moe paused, Shadow didn’t seem upset or worried at all…this big dark eyes just stared at him…<br/><br/>”What?” Moe asked worriedly and then quickly tried to change topics.  “Did you hear about the fire in the Accepted quarters?” he laughed!  “Cadre Coulin said one of the accepted saw a spider! Luckily nobody got hurt!” he chuckled, but Shadow didn’t so much as blink as he handed over a form to enter the tournament.<br/><br/>Moe frowned, “Oh…yeah. sorry about that, I heard you were pretty upset,” he said, but Shadow only stared at him expectantly, much like a coroner might be trying to size him for the right size coffin!<br/><br/>“Wait? me?” Moe quickly shook his head, “Oh no! thats green tournament, I am going for a brown Ajah! Imagine getting to go into the great Tower library! image all the books!” he insisted… Moe’s eyes went wide as Shadow gestured for them to swap places as he ran over and put on Moe’s rather large helmet.<br/><br/>“Oh no! you don’t! I don’t want any drama! its bad enough you got yellow sisters snooping around in here! I can’t be bonded to a yellow! I hate the sight of blood!” he exclaimed angrily.<br/><br/>Shadow grinned and slid away a floor board was a cinnamon bun pilfered from the kitchen.<br/><br/>Moe’s jaw dropped, the bed creaked as he leaned upward… “You didn’t! how?”  he gasped.<br/><br/>Shadow gave a modest shrug, and glanced over toward Moes armor…obnoxiously painted brown of course.<br/><br/>“Light! Shadow! these are from fine flower and powdered sugar!  You didn’t get these from the barracks kitchens! You definitely didn’t buy them! How did you get these? certainly not from the accepted kitchens!” he exclaimed in a low voice….and then glanced around worriedly. “Oh…by the light…. they are so soft and fluffy!” he gasped almost in orgasmic bliss.<br/><br/>“Do you have any more!”  he asked.<br/><br/>Shadow waved the form in front of him, Moe frowned… besides the Great Flag Heist this was perhaps the worst idea he had ever gotten involved in.  “Alright! But you owe me! You owe me big time Shadow…Oh by the light we are going to put in the stocks for this!” he groaned.  “And I mean more than few sweat cakes!” he insisted. “Like you owe me big time shadow!” he insisted.<br/><br/>Shadow tossed the coin purse over to Moe…but then Moe paused and then grinned and tossed it back.<br/><br/>“I can’t take this Shadow, not the coins you got for capturing the flag!” he sighed.  “But…” he grinned, “The winner of the tournament gets fifty cold crowns,” he declared and thoughtfully pressed his fingers together… “Say if somehow I did win the tournament,” he prompted<br/><br/>Shadow readily motioned that they would go 50/50  and more sweet cakes!<br/><br/>Moe grinned and extended his had, and they shook on it! After that set about on the task how to make the amor fit over top of Shadow’s much leaner and wiry frame… which resulted in a small scavenger hunt for extra pillows, blankets, and socks to fill out the chest belly and the large arms and shoulders. The helmet however was a little more tricky. This opted for a green hollowed out watermelon rhine as a secondary liner to keep the helmet from wobbling.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><a class="postlink" href="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/d4/b3/2f/d4b32f5617490f318bffbfb047a92454--tudor-dynasty-knight-armor.jpg">[ img ]</a><br/><br/><br/>—<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;">The Amyrlin Seats Study </span></span></span><br/><br/><br/>No time for be involved with silliness watching cadets smash each with sticks Siuan Sanche leaned over her sturdy desk reading letters and responding to them. It was then the room brightened…<br/><br/>“I am looking for the Amerlin Seat,” Came a soft but firm voice of unrivaled serenity.<br/><br/>Suian Sanche bristled, she glanced upward… ready to snap! that was until she found herself  gazing up at Luna.  Luna was perhaps arguably one the oldest Aes Sedai in the tower… she might’ve have been older than the tower itself! Nobody was certain.  Luna might’ve been voted in for the Amerlin seat…accept…well she was a bit off…some might say a bit crazy.  She only came out of her room accept perhaps once or twice a year….hauling a train books to or from the great library.<br/><br/>Other than that… food was occasionally slid under the door…and empty plate was slid back out.  Some felt sorry for her, claiming she had never been the same after her Warder died…others made fun… ‘Looney Luna’… as she was known as.  Luna normally wore nothing but dirty brown rags, her long snow white hair was normally disheveled, dragging wisp cobwebs cobwebs behind her.<br/><br/>However today… Luna was dressed a rather nice… nice for Luna…the gown was of faded brown silk…small with fringes and tiny holes…but relatively nice although aged material that had been recently washed and cleaned.  Her hair was done up in braid with fresh pink roses<br/>she her head was adorned with golden band, and crescent of a crescent moon rested on her forehead. A small star shaped crystal hung around her throat magnify her radiance!<br/><br/>Perhaps the most striking feature about Luna was her eyes… her irises were nearly pure white leaving only unnerving black pupils that stabbed out at like fierce little needles.<br/><br/>It was said she was from the north… the far, far, far north!<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline">Luna Gaelwin</span></span><br/><a class="postlink" href="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/54/09/9c/54099c096ba9d16d35dd09cb3d79561e--night-elf-character-concept.jpg">[ img ]</a><br/><br/>“I am she, I have been for some time now,” Suian announced at last in a calm collected voice.<br/><br/>Luna blinked and glanced around, “oh…what happened to Tanadia?” she asked.<br/><br/>Suian eyes widened… “She…has been gone since…” she cleared her throat, nut sure how many hundreds of years that had been, “How can help you…” she was about to say daughter but it really just didn’t feel right.<br/><br/>Luna gave a small curtsy, “Yes…” her lips quivered as if struggling to say the word, ‘mother’ but could not, and gave a grateful nod at Suian’s forgoing of calling her daughter.<br/>“I was tasked to find a very ancient Sa’angreal… I have done so,” she declared head held high.<br/><br/>Suian blinked, “Which one? the tower has so  many, its hard to keep track of,” she prompted.<br/><br/>Luna’s eyes widened, and she looked abashed, her lips moved but no words came out…”which…which one?” she managed to gasp. Her room had been filled with charts, riddles and rhymes, books! legends and ancient histories.  “You…you  mean you don’t… you don’t know,” she  stammered shaklily.  “The star of palllonraeth! The crystal of tears! the …the…the…” she exclaimed only be flummoxed by the Suian’s blank stare.<br/><br/>Suian shook her head, “I am…afraid not, I don’t believe we have formally met,” she said.<br/><br/>Luna stared into space…her face deathly pallor… and then she turned and facing the Amerlin her face set like stone,  “Well I found it! Its right…”   she paused as he was about to point to the map…accept…only it… wasn’t there….its right here! she stabbed at blank stop in the wall far, far north! beyond the mountains, beyond the Ocean!  “Its right there!” she insisted.<br/><br/>Suian stared stared unblinkingly at the brown and did her best to offer a kind smile, “Oh…thats…quite far,” she remarked.  “Unfortunately, I cannot spare anyone at the moment… not with all that is going on,” she explained.<br/><br/>Luna looked as if she had just been gut punched.  “No…no… no one! but…I but … but I found it!” she insisted.<br/><br/>“At this time, I cannot… if what you say is true… the Sa’angreal will remain hidden and safe until we can assemble a proper expedition…until then, I am sorry, I have other matters, White Cloaks, Tarmon Gai’don, and The dragon reborn, accepted starting fires in the dormitories, on and on… I am sorry it can’t be done. I can spare no one!” she declared.<br/><br/>The ancient brown Aes Sedai bristled , “Then I will go,” she declared matter-of-factly.<br/><br/>Suian glanced upward and took a sip of her wine, “Luna…please you haven’t been out of the tower for…for…for a long time…a lot of things have changed,” she warned. “I… couldn’t in good conscience let you go …at least not without a warder!” she insisted.<br/><br/>Luna’s eyes narrowed and she began pacing about… and then paused to glance out the window…watching the tournament below….<br/>“What about him… he looks healthy enough,”<br/><br/>Suian slowly rose from her desk and joined Luna glancing down and out of the window.<br/><br/>Something was very odd, their was a tall, very round, but very broad shouldered cadet dressed in brown armor and the Green Tournament for Battle Ajah!   Naturally being the final round was generating a rather loud uproar and laughter… some of the Brown Sisters had even cheering… while the Greens sisters glowered silently…their stone faced warders arms crossed looking on with disapproval shaking their heads.<br/><br/>Suian couldn’t help but smile at first and then realized what Luna was implying.<br/><br/>”Wouldn’t you want…someone perhaps more…experienced,” she asked worriedly.  “He is only a cadet after all,” she warned. “Surely you wouldn’t want him, he is only 18 or 19 years old,” she reasoned.<br/><br/>Luna merely shrugged, “Pah… 18 or 80 makes no difference when you my age,” she snorted. “Besides, I need the muscle and some one with energy… its been a while! A woman has needs you know,”<br/><br/>Suian’s eyes widened and she choked on her wine… and quickly regained her composure…”I…I suppose…IF he is willing,” she added pointedly.<br/><br/>Luna crossed her arms… “I will make his knees wobble and make him beg to come,” she sniffed.<br/><br/>Suian frowned, “You will do nothing of the sort… you will telling him everything, you bring him to me, I question him and if he agrees… then I will allow it…but you will tell him where you are going, your true age, and what dangers lay ahead! you owe that much to him,” she declared.<br/><br/>Luna curtsied, “Yes Amyrlin… you are right to do so, but may I ask one request,” she asked.<br/><br/>Suian gave a nod, “You may ask,” she replied guardedly.<br/><br/>“Perhaps If I may…request the assistance of one the green sisters?” she prompted.<br/><br/>Suian frowned, “Luna… as I said before, I can spare no one…especially none of the experienced green sisters,” she insisted stubbornly.<br/><br/>“Are there no… accepted about to put on the shall?” Luna asked…”Some one…with good potential…some that could use and benefit from my experience?” she prompted.<br/><br/>Suian paused, “There are few accepted in line to be tested…but,  I won’t send them out alone until they have been taken the three oaths certainly not on this little enormous expedition of your  not without at least one competent Warder,” she declared.<br/><br/>Luna smiled and curtsied, “I thank you, Amyrlin,”<br/><br/>“I of course will ask them first if they desire to go on this… 'quest' of yours…and they will go only if they agree… and you will not compel or bully anyone into it... no blackmail, no threats, no bribes,” Suian insisted.<br/><br/>“Of course not,” Luna assured her with an icy sweet smile.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>——<br/><br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;">The Tournament</span></span></span><br/><br/><br/>Shadow felt like he was going to die inside Moedellon/Moe's armor! Thankfully the melon on his head too keep Moes helmet from wobblling around brought some relief to him.  Unable to tie Illia's handkerchief around his padded armors, he had secured it around the blunt metal sword tournament sword's pummel.<br/><br/>"You are during great keep it!" Moe encouraged him threw another bucket of water into Shadow's face. "I can't believe you are made to the finals in this!" he chuckled.<br/><br/>"You just have to beat Gallad! but don't worry, he's got a hot head and he doesn't think when he is mad," he assured him.<br/><br/>Shadow nodded and slurped down another ladle full of water and dumped the rest down his back. Light it was so hot! Once more he was called out to the ring! Moe gave him a thumbs up and pat on the shoulder.<br/><br/>Shadow grimly shut the visor and ambled back out to the raised wooden platform and held up his greatsword up for all to see...his eyes darted about hopping to spot Ilia... wondering if she would know it was him! Light in this he could fool his own mother!<br/><br/>"Well this is a Suprise," Gallad remarked. "I must say, you have greatly improved, I must say, I will feel sorry for you beating you in front of your lady friend," he chimed in amusement and then turned blowing a kiss to the green Aes Sedai..."But honor compels me to reclaim the honor of the green ajah!  therefore expect no mercy," he warned.<br/><br/>Shadow gave a mocking curtesy, to the royal!<br/><br/>Gallad's playful demeanor quickly changed and he rushed at his opponent! Shadow parried neatly and gave a hard kick in the behind as he ran past him.  Which caused an out burst of laughter and angry shouts from the Warders...at least ones bonded to the green! others cheered, rival Aes Sedai... even a few red popped in were now laughing and cheering for Moe!<br/><br/>Gallad came at him again, the blunt swords rang out and sparks, spittle and curses flew! A fancy flourish Gallad disarmed Moe...Moe/Shadow gave him an open palmed slap across the helmet with his right hand and grabbed Gallad's blade with his right.<br/><br/>In an isnant both gadgets where locked in fierce grappling match. Gallad was perhaps the better swords man...but Shadow was a by far the better brawler! Shadow was a survivor! he knew what is was like to fight over in the streets for a crust of bread of bread or for a few coppers!  Gallad let out a horrified shout! One moment he was struggling to get his sword back... the next he saw was his feet sailing through the blue sky  as he was launched through over Moe's broad shoulders in impressive one arm shoulder throw!<br/><br/><object height="360" width="640"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/wKo--aVE4uA"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><embed height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/v/wKo--aVE4uA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" wmode="transparent"/></object><br/><br/>In an instant Shadow retched Gallad's sword from his hand, stepped his helmet and set the folded blunt edge to his throat.  Thus ended round one!<br/><br/>The second round!<br/><br/>Shadow retrieved his sword! But the hankierchief was missing... Gallad held it up dangling it in front of him.<br/><br/>"This smells nice, is she Moe?" he asked.<br/><br/>Shadow didn't quite remember what happened... one moment things seemed to go black! The next moment metal sparks were flying in all direction! Only they were from his sword... but from his gauntleted fists colliding against Gallad's helmet!     Unlike many who forgot all their training when they became emiotional, Shadow actually fought better  when he was angry! anger ushered in the void... the fire that burnt all away, until he was nothing but rage! Calm collected smoldering rage! No, not like wild fire... but rather like a crucible! Hot enough to melt metal, contained and under control with singular intent and purpose!<br/><br/>He was about rip off Gallad's visor...but thankfully Cadre Coulen and another warder who were doing the scoring quickly interviewed and set their staves between them, indicating the match was over!<br/><br/>"By the light! I always knew you had potential Moe!" Coulen guffawed.  "Who ever that lass is, she sure made man out of you!" he chuckled while motioning for the yellows to come see to Gallad.<br/><br/>Shadow quickly snatched Illias hankerchief and hurried off over to his tent.<br/><br/>"Come on, we need to get out of this armor, before they hand out the awards!" Moe exclaimed. Shadow quickly nodded, hastily dawned the helmet and chucked the water melon! and sent the pillows and padding flying in all directions.<br/><br/>"So who is she, anyways?" Moe asked.  Shadow snatched the handkerchief back from his friend quickly hid it away held up his fist threateningly.   "Okay, okay, sorry I asked sheeesh! don't hurt me!" Moe chuckled as he fastened the clasps for chest plate... and then dumped a bucket of warm salt water over himself to appear all swetty and flushed as if he had been the one doing all the fighting.<br/><br/>-<br/><br/>Moe walked out of the tent, his big broad face grinning as he waved to the crowd as he walked out to accept the green reef and prize of gold!... all the while waving the banner for the Brown Ajah...blowing kisses and swirling his sword about, and bowing.  The cadets rushed out to hand hefted him up on top their shoulders... well they tried too...and succeeded for about two seconds before setting him quickly back down!<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;">The Mess Hall</span></span></span><br/><br/>Once all the excitement was over! Moe went to his happy place... the mess hall for a cup of warm coffee and with far too much milk and sugar and a book! when he glanced up... there was a bowl of piping hot sweet cakes glazed in honey.   These sweet cakes weren't exactly something that the Cadets were served in the mess hall...not to them. He had seen Cadre Coulin come out of the Tower with one before... Shadow had also bribed him once or twice with a few cinnamon buns...but this...this oh light! He had never seen them so fresh! or so numerous!<br/><br/>"Wow! Shadow..." he exclaimed but his voice trailed off... as the face who was sitting across from him ... was not Shadow's face....it was Luna's. Immidiately Moe dropped his book and rose to his feet!<br/><br/>"Oh! g-g-g-good afternoon Aes Sedai!" he exclaimed, his eyes darted about fearing the worst, "Am in trouble?" he asked worriedly.<br/><br/>The Ancient brown sister beamed happily back at him, and pointed downward... the wooden bench creaked as Moe obeyed without question! "And how is my champion?" she asked.<br/><br/>Moe gulped... "Umm..." he wasn't entirely sure what to say... and finding it was nearly impossible look back into Luna bizarre eyes…the iris’s been white left only the small black piercing pupils to focus on!<br/><br/>"I see you favor the brown, Ajah... I am told you like books, I like books too," Luna announced. “Close your mouth, and try to act calm,” she said.  “You’re at the last year of your training,  you knew this time would come… you wanted to bonded…now its time”<br/><br/>Moe’s teeth clicked together, though he looked anything but calm!<br/><br/>“I saw you in the tournament, I could use someone like you…a good strong lad, with youth, zeal, and brains… some one who can be counted on in and outside the library! in a fight! or tavern brawl!” she declared.  “Well…?” Luna asked.<br/><br/>“Out…out.. side the library?” he quavered, in panic.  “But..but…but you are b-b-b-brown!” he gasped.<br/><br/>“I spent centuries in the library reading about legends and adventures…now its my turn! I need you, I need your experience and your strength!” she insisted leering over the table at him.<br/><br/>Large drops of sweat began pouring down his forehead he gulped, “Look…l am not a really a good fighter…in fact! You… you should talk to Shadow! Shadow is really good at that sort of thing!” he insisted… it was then he felt silent…<br/><br/>“Shhhhhhh,” Luna shushed him, and gave him a playful wink, “Think on it…I will be back,” she cooed softly.<br/><br/>Moe gasped as felt invisible hands caress his cheek and he lurked nearly lurched upward after he felt a pinch on his bottom.<br/><br/>—<br/><br/>Luna smirked as she left the mess hall, now she needed to find Illia…  she decided to wait in the Accepted’s room.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline">ILLIA's ROOM</span></span><br/><br/>“Oh… you are the one  called Illia are you not?” Luna remarked with a smile, “I hear good things, about you,” she announced,  “I hear you have promise and potential… I could use someone like you,” she announced and motioned her to sit down.   “Have you ever heard of the ‘The Star of Palllonraeth’?” she asked, her smile faded and she sighed, “Well most haven’t, but I believe I have found where it has been hidden…accept I have no-one else to help me retrieve it,” she prompted.  “Naturally such a dangerous and long journey…would require warder,” she added tactfully…”I myself am looking for one, I think I will bond that Cadet in the brown armor,” she declared, “Although I do feel sorry for stealing him from his lady friend… did you see how angry he got when the cadet stole his handkerchief?” she asked and chuckled. “Well, young love… its overrated, she’ll get over it I am sure,” she sighed… and then got up.  “Do you know a fellow by the name of Shadow?” she asked.<br/><br/>“I heard he stole the flag ontop of the tower,” she remarked. “Perhaps he might do as well, I am not sure…I never had two warders at one before…it could be interesting,” she giggled. “Specially up north… the nights get rather cold,” she mused and then turned and glanced back over toward Illia curiously. “Is there something wrong child?” she asked.<br/><br/>“Oh.. I hope I didn’t upset you,” she gasped, gave her an apologetic look… “Oh dear…was it your handkerchief,” she asked worriedly…”IF it was, I… I recant what I said, that was cruel of me… Moe is a healthy lad and strong as an Ox…but Shadow perhaps might be more resourceful I think… I won’t take Moe from you, I am very sorry…” she apologized.   “Unless you had sights on another? perhaps I could offer you some sort of compensation?  a Sa’angreal perhaps?” she suggested… holding out a small smooth polished white crystal stone.  “This will keep you warmer than a bug in a rug on the coldest of winters days, and it does not require any channelling,” she offered.<br/><br/>--<br/><br/>The Next Day...<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline"> In the Garden</span></span><br/><br/>After Shadow had bathed and gotten a fresh plane dark blue cotton tunic with grey fringes... it was the best one he had, or at least, the one with the least amount of holes it, some black pants.   Shadow timidly and shyly entered the garden... part him wondering if Ilia had watched the tournament at all, or if she had been in trouble ...or perhaps angry with him for not returning her scarf. It was now folded neatly in his pocket... he wondered if he should give back...perhaps she didn't even notice was missing and him offering it back would make her angry with him. Perhaps she would tell everybody he could talk...perhaps he was worrying too much?   He wondered what Moe was up to... dammit he still hadn't gotten his half of the prize money yet!  Shadow walked over to the white Gazebo... allowing himself to be seen... perhaps she would see him from a far... he milled about... and then began to wander off back over toward the pond and settled down by the field of daisies where she had spotted him last time and let out a long deep contemplative sigh... Blood and bloody ashes! why did he feel this way?