It was a delicious morning. Miyahd thinks delicious because she would love to go outside and enjoy the sun. However, she knows that cannot be.. unless someone gives her a task in the garden. Which is doubtful. Aes Sedai love to give tasks that were not enjoyable. It's about that time that Miyahd is suddenly startled out of her reverie by a loud swinging opening of her room's door. Miyahd looks up to find that the perpetrator is none other than Liranan. With a tilted gaze and a questioning look, Miyahd opened her mouth to ask in the most respectful way what might be the problem. However, Liranan spoke first.

"Miyahd LaTanon. The time has come for you. Follow me." And then she turned without so much as an explanation of what might follow. Miyahd thought about defying the order, but she was much too curious as to what this "time" implied. The time has come for her to what? Miyahd finally caught up with the Aes Sedai and then regained her posture and grace. "Time to be raised," is all Liranan Sedai would say. Miyahd remained silent for the rest of the walk.

Once reaching their destination, Liranan turned to face Miyahd with the most stern look one could ever imagine. The Domani novice almost gulped.

"Novices are given three chances at this. You may refuse twice to enter, but at the third refusal, you will be sent away from the Tower forever." Liranan spoke, eyeing Miyahd over -- apparently waiting for some reaction. Miyahd waited for a moment, her heart trembling slightly. What would she do outside the Tower? Already, she'd gained more knowledge than she would have as a merchant at her mother's side.

"I do not refuse.." Miyahd answered, taking a deep breath and hoping she did not sound as.. anxious.. as she felt.

"Good. Now I will tell you two things no woman hears until she stands where you do. Once you begin you must go on to the end. Refuse at any point and you will put out of the Tower just as if you had refused to begin for the third time. Second. To seek, to strive, is to know danger. Some have entered and never come out. When the ter'angreal was allowed to grow quiet, they - were - not - there. And they were never seen again. If you will survive, you must be steadfast. Falter, fail and..." The rest is left unspoken but the implications are unmistakable. "This is your last chance. Refuse now, and it counts only as the first. You may still try twice more. If you accept now, there is no turning back. It is no shame to refuse, many cannot do it their first times. Choose."

Miyahd looked up at Liranan with her wide Domani eyes.. sometimes it was odd to remember that Liranan was also Domani. She seemed so different from Miyahd.. and yet, their wills were just as stubborn as the other. Miyahd took a deep breath and nodded, bowing her head down. "I choose to try.. Liranan Sedai."

"Get ready, then." Liranan ordered.. Miyahd merely froze for a moment, searching her memory and then, upon remembering that the ceremony is performed in the nude, she attempted to hide the blush that was forthcoming.

The room had other Aes Sedai. Miyahd didn't know who they were. Various Ajahs sitting around the room, wearing their ceremonial shawls. Liranan directed Miyahd toward the sisters... and the forboding Arches.

"Whom do you bring with you, Sister?" One of the Aes Sedai spoke. Miyahd didn't see which one it was.

Liranan Sedai replied, "One who comes as a candidate for acceptance."

"Is she ready?" "She is ready to leave behind what was, and, passing through her years, gain Acceptance."

"Does she know her fears?"

"She has never faced them, but now is willing."

"Then let her face what she fears."

"The first time is for what was. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast."

Stepping into the Arch, Miyahd could only hope that she had made the right decision. The two other opportunities seemed like quite the better options now...

"Stand up straight, Miyahd."

Miyahd blinked.. trying to think through the haze that seemed to be her mind. Where was she?

"Light help me, Miyahd, if you don't stand up straight I'll sell you to the Darkfriends, I will." Miyahd immediately straightened and found herself looking at her mother. "And please, try to look as if you know what you're doing. If we don't get these people to agree to fund our travels, we might as well kiss our prosperity goodbye." The woman at Miyahd's hem finally finished pinning the garment.

"I don't understand, Mother. Their son isn't even remotely interested in women."

"Don't take that tone of voice with me, young lady. Repeat after me.. A Domani woman's charm will charm the most stubborn of men. Say it."

Miyahd rolled her eyes rather ungracefully and repeated the saying. "A Domani woman's charm will charm the most stubborn of men.." However, she continued her protests, "I swear by the Light, Mother, I saw him eyeing Zacharan the way most women do."

"That's enough of that."

Miyahd silenced herself. An irritated mother she could deal with.. a mad one was another story. "And don't pout that way.. pout prettily. Let me see those pouty lips of yours." Miyahd complied while simply wishing this evening could be done with. "Now, that's my girl."

The gathering-slash-dinner party was somewhat of a success. Miyahd could never grow tired of using her wiles and charms on the handsome dinner guests. However, she was scolded many times by her mother for paying more attention to the guests than the man who should have been the focus of her charms. Letting out a small yawn in mid-conversation with said man got her a quick slap on the shoulder from her mother. Jumping slightly, Miyahd went back to working her charms again. He wasn't interested.. as Miyahd had concluded beforehand.

Coincidentally, it seemed, there was a young gentleman in the crowd Miyahd did take a fancy to. And it appeared that he fancied her as well. Every now and then she would find him giving her a look that almost penetrated into her very soul. He was foreign. He didn't look like any person she'd ever seen before. He looked rich, too, which was why Miyahd's mother didn't protest when she began flirting with him.

"Hello, Good Sir," Miyahd said with her ultra-sultry voice. "Might I interest you in a dance or two?"

The man gave her a grin most intimidating.. and seductive at the same time. "Might I interest you, dear girl, in a walk?" His accent was different. It was not Andoran, Tearan, Altaran, Saldaean.. no accent Miyahd had ever heard.

Miyahd smiled back.. Wait.. something's not right here. Didn't we leave the party after the host's son rejected me? "A walk.." The idea, nonetheless, was quite appealing. "To where, might I ask?"

"Oh, somewhere that we can talk.."

Walking and talking? Something very few courtiers asked of Miyahd these days. She smiled charmingly up at the man. "What might I call you, good Sir?"

"Kavian," He said as he extended his arm.

The way back will show but once.. Be steadfast.

Miyahd almost shivered at the voice that echoed in her mind. She brushed the thought away and smiled up into those startingly different eyes. "Miyahd.." she stated her own name with a voice so uncharacteristically shaky.

"Well, Miyahd, are you joining me? I find interest in you. I've watched you with the other courtiers, and I am fascinated..."

Miyahd nodded quietly, following him as if compelled by some outside force.

Kavian continued, "...I feel as if I've known you for such a long time. Perhaps, I shall make a large gift to your family in askance for your hand.."

Miyahd was speechless.

The way back will be but once.. Be steadfast.

Miyahd shivered again, and tried to recall what those words really meant. A blaze started to get her attention.. a blaze out of the corner of her eye. "What..."

The ballroom was ablaze.. fire was everywhere. "Mother!" Despite how hard her mother is on her, Miyahd still cared for her.

"Don't go back! You'll only burn as well!" Called Kavian as Miyahd ran back toward the building..

The way back will be but once.. Be steadfast.

Now.. now, she knew what that meant. Or did she? Fire.. smoke.. there was so much fire. Then she remembered she could channel.. she could call forth Air and Water to put out the blaze!

The way back will be but once.. Be steadfast.

No.. Miyahd has to stay and help put out the blaze. Just a little Saidar! A shimmering in the distance caught her eye. A door.. an arch. An arch? What was... No! Miyahd had to stay!!

"Mother..." Miyahd extended a hand toward the blaze.. she heard her mother crying out in anguish. The arch.. was this real? Could this be real? No.. No, the party.. she and her mother had left the party.. and there had been no fire. Cringing once more, Miyahd ran for the arch...

...and fell to her knees after going through. "Not real..." But the sounds had been so real.. Mother's pain....

Water.. cold water was suddenly pouring over her shivering body.

"You are washed clean of what sin you may have done, and of those done against you. You come to us washed clean and pure, in heart and soul." The voice.. she recognized it.. it was.. it was.. Liranan.. wasn't it? She directed Miyahd toward the second archway..

"The second is for what is. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast," said Liranan as the two approached the arch. Miyahd took a deep breath and made a determined face. She will go to the end of this test.. She will succeed. And, then, she was urged through..

The kitchens. You'd think that, after Miyahd's gaining Acceptance, Liranan would grow tired of assigning her kitchen duty. All she did was express her opinion. Albeit in her usually superior sounding tone, but still.. With a sigh, Miyahd stared mindlessly into the current grimy pot. And I thought the life of an Accepted was a little easier than that of a Novice..

Rolling her eyes, Miyahd returned to the task at hand. Instead of thinking how disgusting that gunk on the pot was, Miyahd focused her mind on more pleasant thoughts. Like the current gossip.

Dia was caught red-handed in a prank. Serves her right for not letting Miyahd in on it. A look across the kitchens gave Miyahd a perfect view of her fellow Domani also washing dishes.

Xavier was a little off, lately. He claims it's not Saidin. Hopefully, he's right. Miyahd would hate to find some other object to charm when she'd spent so much time on this one already.

Some novice claimed to have heard someone cured the taint on Saidin. That is a riot. Everyone knows there is no cure (though the Reds are devoted to finding this mythical object. Good luck to them.)

Oh yeah, and a trinket of the Aes Sedai's is missing. How someone snuck into the Tower's treasured vault and stole something they claim is so valuable, Miyahd will never know. Though, rumors have it that it was one of them. Miyahd rolled her eyes as she thought of that. Of course it was one of them. How could it not be?

After long toilsome hours of dish-scrubbing, Miyahd and Dia finally finished that day's work in the kitchens. Miyahd smiled over at Dia as the both walked toward the Accepted rooms. "You know better than to pull a prank by yourself." Miyahd slightly chuckled.

"You've got no reason to talk, wench. I didn't see you having a happy day today."

Miyahd shrugged, still grinning, "I was in the kitchens for having a brain.. you were there for the exact opposite reason." Bickerings like these have gone on for years between these two. However, none could deny the fact that when the two of them put their minds together in unity, the result was either far far better (in academics) or far far worse (in pranks).

The argument continued until they both found their respective rooms. Letting her dark curls fall out of the bun she had put it in, Miyahd closed the door behind her and walked over to where her night-shift lay. Stifling an unladylike yawn, she ran her pruned hands through her hair. Turning around, Miyahd gasp loudly.. For standing in the corner of the small room was none other than Liranan Sedai.

"Liranan Sedai.." Miyahd bowed her head slightly, "forgive me, but I did not know you were present.." However, the look Liranan Sedai gave her was not in the least bit forgiving. A sudden force of Air pushed Miyahd back into the wall.

"How does it work?" Liranan's usually scolding voice had more anger in it than Miyahd ever saw on the worst of days. Even her eyes seemed to glow with anger.

"How does what work?" Miyahd tried to seem bold.. trapped against Liranan's Air, she had little to go on. Chances were.. Miyahd was shielded, too.

"Don't play games with me, child. The statuette." Liranan held her glare upon Miyahd so fiercely.. it made her blood chill with fear.

"I.. I.." Miyahd searched her mind for what Liranan might be talking about.. and finally, she remembered. She had a statuette before she came to the Tower. A small figurine of a woman holding a sphere. An Aes Sedai had bought it from her Mother. "I.. I don't know.." Miyahd didn't know there was anything TO make work on this statuette.

"I'm wasting my time.." Liranan muttered to herself.. "Well, now there's an accident to arr--"

"Hey, Miyahd, there's something I want to talk to..." Dia had suddenly burst into the room without knocking.. as was her tendency to do. "....you about.." Dia stated that last as she stared at the weaving of Saidar in the room.. "What in the Light.."

Whether it was genuine surprise, or Dia's Talent at work, Miyahd was suddenly able to move. Using this initiative, she pushed Dia out of the room and attempted to flee, herself. "Go get help!" She called out to Dia as she felt herself being lifted and flung into the wall in the hall. How was this going on and not waking up the other Accepted?

Miyahd groaned at the physical damage this had done. She felt bruises growing.. and what felt like a few fractured bones. Miyahd looked up at a very perturbed Liranan. "Dia will be too late to help you, Miyahd. It's too late for anything. That little statuette of yours is the key to everything, and you didn't know it. A pity that the previous owner of this trinket will not be alive to see it bring glory to the Great Lord of the Dark."

Miyahd's eyes widened.. She had done a lot of traveling, but she had never seen a Darkfriend.. and to see one here, in the Tower, was overwhelming. Miyahd had to tell someone.. She had to warn someone.. Dia? Xavier?...... Ta'ima?

The way back will come but once. Be steadfast.

There goes that voice again.. ringing in Miyahd's head. She saw the silver shimmering of an archway and shook her head.. she was held.. confined.. How was she supposed to get to the archway? Panic rose in her chest.. How was she to warn the others when she knew she had to go through the arch? All these questions ran through her mind at a pace faster than she could comprehend.

The way back will come but once. Be steadfast.

Liranan was suddenly flung off her feet and several yards back. "Let her go, Liranan." Someone with the audacity to leave the honorific off of her name? Xavier! Miyahd turned to see a group of Accepted and Novices, all probably gathered by Dia in a very short time? Maybe.. This allowed her the time to jump out of Liranan's reach and toward the silver arch.

Miyahd only looked back once.. the Tower was divided.. again. Liranan had people fighting for her.. and it seemed, Joliann had joined in the good side. It was only a matter of time before the Tower would be destroyed by such a battle.. If only..

The way back will come but once. Be steadfast.

It was all her fault. Miyahd couldn't help but place the blame upon herself. It was her statuette that had caused the entire mess. Miyahd had to stay and fight! It was only right...

The way back will come but once. Be steadfast.

The archway began to shimmer and fade...

Miyahd nearly stumbled out of the arch.. At first, she had believed herself too late, and the arch gone forever. But, here she was, finally.. here... "You are washed clean of false pride. You are washed clean of false ambition. You come to us washed clean, in heart and soul." Miyahd couldn't tell who it was that spoke.. at first, her mind was a haze, but then.. Liranan? Miyahd gasped loudly and almost sputted out the water that spilled over her head. She tried to run away from Liranan..

"Miyahd.." Liranan spoke, looking down at her with kinder eyes than the Liranan before.. although, only slightly kinder. "Miyahd, what happened was only a dream.. Miyahd?"

Finally, she rose her gaze to meet Liranan's.. shivering from fear at her voice. A dream.. Yes.. only a dream. Miyahd began to calm down.

"Do you wish to continue?"

Miyahd nodded, ever so nervously, "Yes, Aes Sedai.."

A Yellow Sister reached out and Healed her bones and bruises.. Miyahd thought to herself If it was just a dream.. how do I still have my wounds?

Liranan only curtly nodded as Joliann finished Healing, "The third is for what will be. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast."

Here we go again...

"...Tear." Dia had been going on about something.. What was it? Miyahd's mind was so fuzzy. Where was she?

"Mother?" Dia had noticed Miyahd's confused look. "Are you feeling well, Mother?" A nod assured Dia that all was well, and she went on with the droll report of what the collective eyes and ears of all the Ajahs had found. Mother? Miyahd's mind whirled in confusion. Why would Dia call me... And then it occurred to her. She remembered Raising to Aes Sedai.. She remembered toiling for years as a member of the Blue Ajah, sticking her nose in other people's business. She remembered when the Hall deemed Ta'ima unfit for her role as Amyrlin and stilled her. What had happened to the other Amyrlin? Why in the Light couldn't she remember her name? Something happened.. but what?

"Mother.." Dia tilted her head, "Forgive my impertinence, Mother, but are you sure you are well?"

Leave it to Dia to speak to the Amyrlin in such a fashion. But, then again, they were always conivers and comrades during their years as Novices, Accepted, and members of the Blue Ajah. But, the Amyrlin had no Ajah.. She was of all Ajahs. Or, at least, that's the way it worked in theory. Miyahd could never really learn to be impartial about anything. Light knew why she had been chosen to be Amyrlin.

"I'm fine.. All these political reports and geographic mappings are giving me a headache." Miyahd rubbed her temple lightly.

"Alright.. perhaps you should rest then, Mother." It took Dia a long time to learn to call Miyahd "Mother". Miyahd was far from a motherly type.

"Rest.. seems appropriate.. please, leave me be until after supper." Miyahd dismissed Dia with a wave of her hand. When Dia left, Miyahd exhaled a soft sigh. There was something she wasn't looking forward to doing.. What was it?

"Is everything in place?" Asked another voice.. Miyahd almost gasped and jumped.. if she hadn't already trained herself over the years to remain stolid even when surprised. Miyahd turned to face this new voice and reluctantly nodded. She was remembering other things now. Like Shayol Ghul. Miyahd turned to face this person.

"Be glad that I'm a patient woman. Otherwise, I would be sorely peeved at the slow pace of your progress," the woman seemed vaguely familiar as she left the shadows of the Amyrlin's chambers to face Miyahd. Miyahd's eyes widened against her will to keep a somber face.. It can't be... But it was... Kaiulani.

"Drastic changes such as those you instructed take time, Chosen." Miyahd's head respectuflly bowed. What am I doing?!?

"Indeed. But you have taken far too long. If those fools had not already replaced me before I returned, I could have finished years ago." Her piercing gaze seemed to bore a hole right through Miyahd's soul.

What have I done? I couldn't have..

But indeed.. she had. Miyahd looked into her past and saw the frightening truth. In her arrogance in putting herself first before everyone else, she had sold her soul to the Great Lord of the Dark. She had forsaken the Light for personal gain.

As for Ta'ima? Miyahd only had to think that name and shudder. She had given Kaiulani a hard time.. and she was done away with. Miyahd took a deep breath. Light help me... But it was too late.. she had forsaken the Light, so the Light had forsaken her.

"Having second thoughts, Miyahd? Doubting your allegiance to me?" Kaiulani smirked lightly. "I should not have to remind you yet again of Ta'ima."

"No, my Lady, you do not have to remind me." Miyahd could only hope that somehow, she could prevent this plan from coming into being.

The way back will come but once. Be steadfast.

Those words.. so familiar, and yet.. Miyahd shivered inwardly. I can't be so shallow as to allow the Dark One to take over my life... Can I? But, unfortunately, Miyahd knew that if someone offered her riches and a chance to become a grand leader with everyone at her beck and call... No.. She wouldn't be. Never. Miyahd braved a look upward, into the eyes of Kaiulani.. who wasn't Kaiulani anymore.

The way back will come but once. Be steadfast.

I pray the Creator give me strength... Miyahd held in her hand her statuette. The woman, dressed in robes, her hands above her head and holding a sphere. Now, Miyahd knew why she was chosen to be the Amyrlin. The statuette had called to her.. that was why she had wanted it so much. The Aes Sedai had taken it from her, and now.. in this time.. she had it, and she was to use it for the evils of the Dark One. I hope they can use a broken trinket.. Miyahd thought smugly as she began to channel Saidar through the statuette.

The way back will come but once. Be steadfast.

They say the Wheel weaves as the wheel wills. Great people are born again in each age to re-enact their righteous deeds. Who knows why the statuette only reacted to Miyahd's Saidar? Massive amounts of Saidar wove about the Tower. Kaiulani's eyes widened. She couldn't believe that Miyahd had tamed the power of the statuette so suddenly. In fact, Miyahd had not. She would rather destroy Kaiulani and herself than allow the Tower to be ruled by anything other than the Light.

"You are mad.." Kaiulani whispered through gritted teeth as she gathered Saidar about her and attempted a shield.

"You are right.." Miyahd whispered back..

The way back will come but once. Be steadfast.

I must rid the Tower of this filth! The archway shimmered in the edge of Miyahd's vision. No! Just a little more time! Miyahd held the statuette before her.. it shone with power.. pulsating through Miyahd's blood. She began to focus its power..

The way back will come but once. Be steadfast. The silver arch shimmered yet again.. it's defining outline beginning to disappear.. With a desparate cry, Miyahd turned from Kaiulani to the arch.. and dove through.

Miyahd collapsed on the floor before all who had come to witness this ritual. She was barely conscious of the fact someone was delving her for wounds. She could hardly tell who was doing what.. the Power she had handled in the previous arch had taken its toll.. She cried out when she heard Kaiul-- the Amyrlin's voice.

"You are washed clean of Miyahd LaTanon of Arad Doman." Cold water poured over her head. The Amyrlin had her seven striped stole around her neck, and more sisters stood on either side of her, all wearing their shawls.

"You are washed clean of all the ties that bind you to the world. You come to us washed clean, in heart and soul."

Someone slipped the golden Great Serpent ring on the third finger of her left hand.

"You are Miyahd LaTanon, Accepted of Chasaline."