<div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/f/fd/Valdar.jpg)</div><strong>Character name:</strong>Galvren Valynar (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=234819.msg11585469#msg11585469)<br/><strong>Position:</strong>Valdar (Newly Risen to Gaidin)<br/><strong>Bondmate:</strong>Nasha<br/><strong>Tag:</strong>None, yet.<br/><strong>Time:</strong>Afternoon, Saven 7th.<br/><strong>Place:</strong>The Grounds, Main Yard ---> North Gate.<br/><strong>Warning:</strong><br/><hr/><br/>Believe it or not, it didn't take Galvren overly long to become bored of watching the trainees practising in the yard such that he began to find his attention wandering....it wasn't that the sessions themselves were overly boring or even that he didn't enjoy watching the "Warders of Tomorrow" learning their stuff. It wasn't even that he had particularly bad memories regarding his training, all things considered; he had moments that he didn't look back on with particular enthusiasm, it's true, but he also had plenty of times stored away in his head that he frequently looked back on and smiled. The training and preparation was brutal and exhausting and at the time seemed never-ending, but it was all worth it in the end; either he couldn't take it and left - in which case, he would always know that it just wasn't meant to be and wouldn't wonder "what if" for the rest of his life - or he made it through and found his life's purpose and a way to repay the White Tower for all the good it did in the world...and thankfully, it was the latter. Now, hopefully, he would be tough enough and resilient enough to deal with most anything that came his way, and honestly, wasn't that what training was for? To prepare you for your trials, to weed out the incapable ones and leave only those who are meant to be there? He had his bad experiences, yes, but he would never trade a second of his years training because everything that he did and everything that happened to him contributed to getting him where he was at that moment, and they would all inevitably contribute to what kind of Warder he would be, and watching the trainees reminded him of just how much work he put in to reach the point he was at. So no...no, he didn't "lose interest" because it was boring or painful or frustrating or any of those reasons. He stopped watching because of something far more petty.<br/><br/>He was<em>jealous.</em>Not of the trainees themselves, necessarily, since even though he remembered his training relatively fondly he had no desire to go back to it and he was extremely happy that those days were behind him, especially now that he had actually managed to pass his Warder Exam. It was something far simpler and selfish than simply wishing "for a simpler time," as it were; he was out of commission, WIA, on the sidelines, suspended until further notice due to his injury, and not only were the trainees fully physically healthy - with the exception of that Novice just a moment ago who took a sword to the stomach, of course - but they were able to do something that he wasn't;<em>train.</em>Any other day, if he felt bored or restless or idle, he would pick up one of his weapons and practice with it, be it simple forms, marksmanship challenges, friendly sparring with other Gaidin or just stepping in to aid with a training group if his own Squad of Novices happened to be on their Rest Day. But now that his shoulder was well and truly buggered up, he couldn't do it without risking serious injury to himself and he was under strict orders<em>not</em>to put himself at risk if he could help it. Standing there by the side, watching the younger ones training filled him with a sudden, almost irresistible itch to get up and do something, regardless of the risk and possible consequences; he<em>needed</em>to start moving, or this placid little recovery period was going to drive him absolutely light-burnedly<em>insane.</em>His attention wandered simply because if it didn't, he risked being unable to stop himself from hopping the barrier, picking up a training sword and joining in...or at least trying to, since with one arm he was more likely to try and hop the barrier and then fall over himself as the shock of pain from his shoulder lanced through his spine and forced an involuntary spasm in his body. And that would be decidedly "not good."<br/><br/>It was as he was pointedly looking everywhere<em>except</em>the training grounds that he spotted something very curios and perhaps just as interesting as the training regimes that the Novices were undergoing, though somewhat less enticing...as empty as the training ground was that afternoon - most people either eating, running errands or visiting the Faire - it was difficult to miss anything even vaguely out of the ordinary, and a somewhat irate-looking Aes Sedai practically storming across the training grounds was most certainly less than "ordinary," whatever "ordinary" was where hundreds of powerful women frequently converged to utilise The One Power. Aes Sedai were usually very pointedly serene and graceful and unflappable in their poise and demeanour, but on this occasion, the Sister in question - a Brown, looking at her shawl - was looking decidedly unhappy and not afraid to let everybody know just how far her irritation appeared to extend. What she was angry at, Galvren could only guess, but he knew right then and there that he would likely be better off staying well out of her way. Still...even as he turned his head in an attempt to not look in her direction and possibly attract her irate attention, he couldn't keep himself from watching her from the corner of his eye....Aes Sedai were always composed and in control of their emotions, even those Ajah's known for more fiery temperaments emphasising cool control over emotional outbursts, so what could possibly frustrate any Aes Sedai so much, let alone a Brown, whose only passions tended to lie in the gathering of knowledge. A problem she couldn't solve, perhaps, or a book or passage that had been defiled or borrowed and never returned? Potentially, though he didn't believe that he recognised the Sister in question, so he likely couldn't make a judgement call on what could be frustrating her...and if Theraeve Sedai had taught him anything, it was that Sisters are not always reflections of their Ajah's stereotype.<br/><br/>As it was, she was headed straight through the training grounds, apparently paying little heed to much of her surroundings as she stalked towards the Northern Gate, likely looking to leave the Tower and enter Tar Valon proper. Galvren frowned at that; he had heard several concerning rumours involving altercations in the alleys of Tar Valon recently, and even though he doubted that even a Brown could be disarmed and outmatched easily - if at all - by a group of ruffians in the middle of Aes Sedai Central, he still thought that caution would be more advisable than recklessness...inside the walls of The White Tower, you were relatively sage, but outside in the busy city streets? Any number of things could happen, and the Brown Sister apparently believed herself utterly safe...until he saw her slow at the gate and hesitate, as if about to look back. She slowed to a stop before gates as if considering something, staring out across the bridge back into the city complex. Galvren watched her for a moment; she needed an escort, that much was obvious; no Aes Sedai should go anywhere without adequate back-up, be it several powerful pre-prepared weaves, some soldiers or - in most cases more applicably - a Warder to look out for them and watch their back, just in case. And if necessary...to sacrifice themselves to let the Aes Sedai escape. They were just too valuable to the Lights cause to sacrifice needlessly or to risk without adequate protection, and The Shadow could strike anywhere...even in the Heart of Tar Valon. All it took was one weak-willed or selfish citizen, and The Shadow had a hidden agent and potential assassin. He realised what was happening a moment too late; he was talking himself into accompanying her, into effectively starting his role as a Gaidin before he was fully healed and as a way to alleviate his bone-crushing boredom...and damnit, it had worked. Even as he figured out that's what his brain was trying to do, he was already halfway across the yard towards her. He very well couldn't stop then, and if nothing else, a jaunt into the City as an Aes Sedai's temporary bodyguard was actually a rather attractive prospect. At least it would give him something to do. He came up beside the Brown Sister and gave her a respectful bow.<br/><br/>"Good afternoon, Aes Sedai," he said, straightening up (but being careful to avoid moving his shoulder too much; it was a good thing that his sword could be held in one hand). "My name is Valdar Galvren Valynar, and I couldn't help but notice your...." He had to be delicate, now...some Aes Sedai were more prickly than others, and until he figured out what kind of temperament this Brown Sister had, it was a good idea to be as polite and inoffensive as possible. That was a good policy for Aes Sedai in general, of course, but it went doubly so for the ones you didn't know. "...momentary pause. May I be of any assistance, Aes Sedai?" Honestly, who else was going to help? There were no other Gaidin or Valdar's around at the moment - apparently - and was it not a Gaidin's duty to aid a Sister who might be in need of support, regardless of personal risk or injury? He wouldn't be a very good Gaidin if he let a Sister go into any crowded, potentially dangerous environment alone without at least offering his services, would he? And who else would be able to offer support and possible protection were they to be attacked? The trainees who could barely even hold a sword? Not likely. Galvren may have been injured, but he was at least better prepared than some green recruit or half-grown trainee. Light burn him if he was going to stay in the exercise yard any longer if there was a chance to at least act like a Gaidin for a short while. He'd worked towards it for what felt like his whole life...so why not practice when the opportunity presented itself? The trainees may have passed on the opportunity, but not Galvren. He was going stir crazy, and at least this could potentially get his mind off of things.