<div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/4/42/Gaidin.jpg)</div><strong>Character name:</strong>Ardan Taliesin<br/><strong>Position:</strong>Gaidin<br/><strong>Bondmate:</strong>Aleana Sedai<br/><strong>Tag:</strong>Aleana<br/><strong>Time:</strong>Evening, Saven 5th, 990NE<br/><strong>Place:</strong>Aleana's room<br/><strong>Warning:</strong>N/a<br/><hr/><div style="text-align: justify;"> Ardan hoped that the thick leather that he had worn while guarding the petitioner's foyer would not be an issue, but then he realized that his request to hold her had been to physically feel her close, not just in his mind, as if trying to ease the intensity of the feeling. He made a quick move to the clasp at his side and one at his shoulder to remove the armor, revealing a rather plain white shirt underneath, slightly crumpled by the pressure of the hardened leather. Ardan dropped on the seat of the chair where he was sitting a moment ago, and did so gently even though the armor could have sustained a rougher treatment and not gotten damaged. He was just that careful.<br/><br/>Ardan did not lose much more time before giving in to his urge to pull her close to him. Her words, her emotion, her body's state, everything was reaching him all at the same time. It was like communicating with someone at another level, in a language he had yet to learn. The language of her emotions. He could recognize some easily enough, as they were the mirror of his own. He wrapped his arm around her in a protective, maybe even slightly possessive manner, but in no way smothering. "It's such an honor, Aleana. I think I have yet to wrap my head around it fully. It's not going to sink in properly until the morning." He said and realized that he had not used her title a few seconds too late. He would never dare to do this in public, where others could hear.<br/><br/>"Of course, you've had a long, eventful day. It can certainly wait for tomorrow." It wasn't like everything had to be decided tonight. Oh! He would get to move out of the barracks and into the Gaidin's wing! The joy of having his own room, rather than sleeping in the same large room with a dozen of snoring men.  He felt a mix of relief and joy at the thought of that. No one to pull pranks on him anymore, and a more private place to store his belongings; now that was a perk that he had not considered, but that was quite considerable for someone who had tasted the perks of a higher rank prior to coming to the Tower.<br/><br/>"Would you like me to leave you soon, so that you can rest?" Ardan asked although he had no desire to leave, and putting some distance between his Aes Sedai and himself was something that he was reluctant to do. She should be safe, in the Blue Ajah Hall, but then again, she should have been safe in the White Tower's dining area…  He simply wanted to have her close for now, get used to her, get acquainted with her at such a personal level. Ardan was careful not to let his mind wander, not to focus on the feel of her very attractive feminine body held against his. Tower training had left very little time for pleasure. Would the bond remain platonic, as the training told them to expect. Could it really remain platonic when they were in each other's mind? Ardan wondered but did not question. He suspected that this was just the beginning of the questioning that would rise out of being bonded.</div>