<span style="font-style: italic">"As you command... Aes Sedai, I will listen and obey,"</span><br/><br/>It was all Ilia could do not to drop her jaw. He had been so...opinionated back in the gardens yesterday. But now? It was as if she intimidated him. Of course, she had been an accepted yesterday and today an Aes Sedai. It was easier to speak your mind around someone you saw as an equal. She looked at him for a moment,<span style="font-style: italic">really</span>looked at him. On the surface he seemed demure, placid, and emotionless, but there were little things she noticed. The way he stood straight and looked only to the wall. He did not meet her gaze, but there was a fire in them. Oh no. He wasn't some demure cadet susceptible to manipulation, but he had been trained to look like one: either by himself, or someone else. Ilia sighed and stood to her feet, straighteneding her skirts. It seems he wouldn't apologize on his own. Well, neither would she and if he chose not to address the issue at hand? So be it. She was a patient woman. She could wait.<br/><br/>Moving to the wardrobe on one wall of the room, Ilia removed a well constructed, leather saddlebag and took it to her bed. She needed to pack for her trip and she wasn't going to wear all of her gowns between then. She may as well pack what she wasn't going to use. Being newly raised, Ilia was wary of using the power too much, so she began rolling her woolen gowns tightly Trying her best to stay calm, Ilia took her frustration out on her gowns. They were rolled so tightly, it was a wonder she wasn't using the power to do it. He was acting so different around her! She wanted to..to...box his ears! Yes! He was being a woolhead! Calming her beating heart, Ilia rounded on the man, fists planting on her hips.<br/><br/>"For the love of the light, Shadow!" He was being ridiculous. Of course, she wasn't exactly exhibiting an Aes Sedai's calm either. "Why were you so upset? What could I have possibly said to set you off?" Ilia crossed her arms and began to pace. "Not that it matters! I'm certain I didn't say anything to warrant that tongue lashing! And to wish me ill will?" She stopped, trying to force herself into his line of sight, but he cleared her head easily. "I thought we were friends, Shadow." While her own little rant had been growing louder, Ilia allowed herself to show some vulnerability at the end. Her last statement had been quiet and she searched his eyes, even if they were looking at the wall.<br/><br/>She quietly cleared her throat before returning to her bedside and resumed her packing. If he wasn't going to apologize of his own free will, she wasn't going to force him too. "A forced apology isn't a real apology" she could hear her adopted mother say. "We're leaving in a couple days time" Ilia spoke loud enough so he could hear her as she concentrated on her task at hand. "Are you coming with us?" Ilia supposed it wouldn't hurt to ask. If he said no, then that was the end of it. He obviously had his own plans and she would leave him to them. She wasn't sure how long the trip would take, but Ilia was certain it would be long enough for another to bond him before she returned. The thought upset her, but he was his own man. He had his freedom to choose and she had no right to keep him from anything.