Shadow glumly stared at the ground...expecting to be further hounded and embarrassed all the more, through forced open confession and or promises to behave. Instead, he felt the unexpected crisp cool air the greeted his neck and wrists as the horrible yoke lifted!<br/><br/><span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-style: italic">"Yes, you can."</span></span><br/><br/>The three simple words dropped Shadow to his knees, he stared up at her dumbfounded... did she really still want him? but how? why did she still want him? It was one thing when he was something special, but now? while he was in the stocks like some a town drunk! surely she would be chasing after Gallad or one of the other cadets! The moment she motioned toward the basket, Shadow hurriedly snatched it up ... he glanced back at the stocks, just then reealizing that nobody else had been around to unlock the stocks and she hadn't even used a key! Had she channeled!?!<br/><br/>Shadow gulped, and hurried after her... still the same, Ilia... still the same Ilia he told himself over and over... though something was clearly different, perhaps it was dress! it was amazing what accepted uniform and the silk gown could alter her appearance.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic"> <span style="text-decoration: underline">"I went shopping in preparation for our trip and I was going to have them sent to my rooms, but since you're here, you may as well do it." </span></span><br/><br/>"yes...Aes Sedai," he replied carefully.... she was now an Aes Sedai! and he was still the troublesome cadet who had been mucking out stables.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="text-decoration: underline">"The food is for you"</span></span><br/><br/>"You are very generous, Aes Sedai," he replied robotically.<br/>At any other time, Shadow might have been overjoyed, but this felt more like lemon juice and salt being rubbed into his already wounded pride... he had almost rather have been switched! or scolded and told how awful he was! Anything but torturing him with her kindness! He wanted to be upset! but each time he tried, he could only back to the time when she had his head cradled in his lap and had healed him.<br/><br/>Dammit... even as she overloaded him, and treated me like her personal mule,  he still couldn't be upset with her! as now he couldn't exactly be angry for being let of the stocks or being fed... and it seemed a second and third chance!  He couldn't exactly complain, at least he refused! Somehow, he carried the mountain of boxes and bags... dutifully serving out his well deserved penance! Which in a way made him feel a little better, it was far better to be worked to death than to feel horribly indebted and guilty as sin! while eating food he didn't deserve or and being forgiven when he hadn't apologized!<br/><br/>Shadow glanced about at the spectactular room, well furnished room. It was definitely nothing at all like the barracks. At last he set down the mountain of boxes and bags onto the bed, and was  eagerly about to turn and leave her be when...wham!<br/><br/>The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, as if on its own... the door closed it self shut! Shadow spun around, his dark eyes now big and round like tea saucers as he stared at Illia... stared at Illia Sedai!  Shadow felt his throat go dry... blood and bloody ashes... he longed for the days when he was standing before the Armylin Seat! she wasn't half as scary as Ilia was!<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic"> <span style="text-decoration: underline">"If we're going to get past our little argument we have to talk about it."</span> </span><br/><br/>Shadow stared at her like an the owl gazing at the moon! Remembering his training he quickly snapped to attention... his eyes fixed onto the wall and quickly defaulted back into cadet mode.  "As you command... Aes Sedai, I will listen and obey," he replied, he felt his heart beating a million miles an hours... outwardly he remained cool and calm... placid, unreadable... stone faced... W.W.L.D... what would Lan do? he thought. What Would Lan Do? he pondered over and over again. He felt like a complete wool head! Aes Sedai could not like... trainees/ warders to be could not disobey... it was now her move. IF She wanted an apology... would could command him to give it, but she would have to be specific! He would only say what was required of him... she had made perfectly clear she didn't need him to think or want his council... he had just been worried about her! well he had said some things he wished hadn't but... he had definitely meant them! Ilia could channel, Moe could fight, but all it took was rock or club to the back of the head, or an arrow and that just didn't matter anymore! Why couldn't she see that?