Entrance Hall: White Tower, Tar Valon
A flat-domed ceiling caps this round chamber, which is ringed with 
elaborately-carved stone archways. Here the petitioners that come to the Tower 
wait for an audience with an Aes Sedai. Over the past three thousand years, 
their nervous feet have worn grooves into the floor.
Groups of Novices and the occasional Accepted pass by on their way from dinner 
to their studies or chores. The main doors out of the Tower are propped open, 
and you can see the flourishing greenery of the grounds. A wide ramp slopes up 
to the residence areas, including the guest rooms. To the west is the common 
wing, with its dining hall and lounge. To the north can be found the offices of 
the Amyrlin and the Tower library. You can see a pleasant courtyard directly 
opposite the open main doors to the southeast.

Tristan walks in through the elaborately-decorated Main Doors.

Rennar appears to be talking to one of the Accepted, frowning slightly, "Would 
you -please- tell him that his counsin is here to see him?"

The Accepted speaking with Rennar appears to be giving her a hard time.

"Leave off, Accepted." 

The strong, confident voice from behind Rennar, unseen by the girl who had been 
focusing so heartily on troubling the noblewoman until... now. Grimacing, she 
nods curtly, and with a muttered "Yes, Gaidin," hurries off.

Up the ramp, and away from the slender, cloaked man standing behind Rennar.

Where -did- he come from?!

Rennar nearly jumps when she hears Tristan's voice, spinning about on her heel, 
"I think between you and Lord Roesone, it's a wonder why I have not died from 
fright yet." She smiles nervously at her cousin.

"Demonder can move silently? It must be all that grease in his hair," Tristan 
says with an easygoing chuckle, shifting his weight from foot to foot, relaxed 
yet somehow balanced like a snake poised to strike. "You're looking for me, 
Renni? I'd thought you had already left for home."

Rennar quirks a brow at Tristan's comment on Demonder, "Mostly, it's because I 
am not aware of him when he sneaks up on me." She speaks in a soft voice, "Yes. 
I was looking for you." A smile easily comes to her lips, "And no, I had not 
left for home... I simply... changed residences."

Tristan merely goes on smiling that winning smile, the one men follow and women 
fall for--or men envy and women shy back from. It largely depends on the 
viewer. Tossing his golden hair, the young Andorman eyes his cousin 
speculatively. "The date is drawing near though, yes? Is that what you wished 
to speak to me about?"

"In part, cousin." The young andoran noblewoman answers, green eyes regarding 
him quietly, "In part." A soft, yet shy, smile comes to her features. She lifts 
a hand and ever so carefully pushes her hair behind one of her ears, "The other 
part has to do with future plans within House Hune."

Vreneir walks in through the elaborately-decorated Main Doors.

Vreneir walks through an archway and into the pleasant gardens of the 
courtyard.

Tilting his head to watch his young kinswoman more carefully, Tristan cannot 
suppress the inquiring, curious look that takes shape on his features. 
Intrigued, certainly. Arms folding over his chest, he shows no other sign of 
expectation as he nods for her to continue.

The young woman shifts the weight upon her feet ever so slightly, regarding 
Tristan nervously and shyly once more, "I am to be married." She comments, 
keeping a straight and somber expression as she mentions it; though her eyes do 
little to contain her happiness.

"To Demonder of House Roesone." The words are spoken flatly, plainly, without 
hint nor sign of other emotion; such is the way of the Warders. There is 
nothing in Tristan's look, his tone, to give the nod toward either approval or 
disapproval, until he essays a peculiar smile. "I am glad that you are... 
happy, my lady."

It is now, perhaps, Rennar's turn to cross her arms before her as she regards 
Tristan in a simple noblesque manner. "Indeed, you are?" She tilts her head 
just slightly to the side, some of her auburn hair sliding into her features, 
"I know that I am marrying beneath my station, however at one time I was 
considering a commoner for my hand, though Torgan Nimrais had other things on 
his mind it seems." She sniffs slightly, straigtening a bit, "I think I've 
found the ideal mate in Lord Demonder, despite some of his other," A brief 
pause ensues, "habits."

"I cannot speak for... Lord Demonder, though there was a time I might have even 
approved," Tristan replies, his tone equally cultured, given neither to fair 
nor foul emotion, but none at all. "I will not endorse a man who has the gall 
to tell my Bondmate she ought Bond any man but me," he adds, subtle smirk 
playing across his lips, "...but if you are happy, I am pleased for that. 
Truly."

Surprise briefly touches Rennar's eyes, "I had not even known you were bonded." 
She comments, "Though surely he was speaking to her in jest. Lord Demonder so 
loves to display his sense of humor."

Tristan's blue eyes narrow to slits for a brief moment, despite his 
well-maintained look of neutrality. "Aes Sedai may not know when a man is 
lying, my cousin," he says, "...but they surely know when a man is joking. Ah 
well; the last laugh is mine in any case--he does not know either, and will 
not, I pray."

Rennar quirks a brow at Tristan, a small frown upon her features, "And what is 
that, pray tell?"

"Whyfore, that she Bonded me despite it," Tristan replies, his puzzled 
expression showing that he perhaps thinks his cousin missed the obvious, but 
his smile forgives it as quickly. "I will not interfere with your happiness, 
Renni, but hear me out: That man is not one you can trust. Your consort is one 
thing, but I beg you--" and here, he is on the low ground, and knows it, but 
asks in earnest, "--do not give Demonder of Roesone any part of your 
aithority."

"Just because I marry him does not mean that he'll have ruling interest over 
House Hune. I -am- the Head and will remain so." Rennar murmurs, frowning 
slightly at Tristan, "But I do believe I can trust him. He has had many chances 
to prove himself untoward and he's been an utmost gentlemen while in my 
presence."

"That's the key, Renni," Tristan begins, but far from ends. Oh no. There's a 
certain pasison to the words as the young man speaks, gesturing emphatically 
with his hands while doing so. "While in your presence! What does the man do 
while out of your sight? Did you know that he frequents that--Riverboat? Or 
that his servants are stalked by unseen foes for the sake of a failed 'business 
dealing...'"

Here, Tristan snorts. "At least, that is what they call it. Can you truly 
believe he is not involved in such things? That they do not reflect on his 
honour, and Corwyn's? Did the depth of the shadows around the Modrenes prove 
nothing?"


"Marry him, love him, but Rennar, I beg you--" Tristan clenches and unclenches 
his fingers, staring into his cousin's eyes, "--do not -trust- him."

"I've been to the gaming barge myself, cousin. Does that make me an outlaw and 
a vagrant as well?" Rennar asks, raising a brow in question at Tristan. A small 
frown forms on her features. "I know of House -Roesone's- servants. They are 
not his alone. Versad works -for- Corwyn, not Demonder. If you call into 
question the servants, then call into question the entire House, not just 
Demonder. It is the family itself that is being stalked. Did you know that both 
he and his brother Pitor were attacked in the city?"

"And do good, Light-fearing men without spots on their honour suffer such 
attacks, Cousin? I ask you that." Tristan's voice is cool, 
dispassionate--logical, now. How subtle yet how great the shifts in his 
modulation. "Who could stand to gain anything from assault, intimidation, or 
even murder of the Roesones? They are not a wealthy or important House, Renni; 
you've admitted as much yourself. That leaves some sort of motivation for those 
attacks that we can't guess at--"

"...and I see that Demonder has not told you of it either."

"Does it make -me- any less do good and Light-fearing when our dear Uncle 
Jeffrin makes such attacks against our own House and our persons?" Rennar tries 
to drive her own point home, "Not two weeks ago did Calisa, Kelric -and- Satira 
get ushered here because he is back with his own threats, his own plans and 
scemes to take over the house -again-. Is it so uncommon that others plot to 
gain power, to gain things that are not their own?"

"You're telling me that Demonder has an Uncle Jeffrin hiding somewhere? We'd 
have heard of it by now, Rennar. Where were any of them when we were fighting 
for Aislynn and Theowyn?" Stopping cold at that, Tristan heaves a mighty sigh 
and looks up to the ceiling; he is calmed again when he resumes. "I have--ways
of knowing things--about the Roesones, Cousin. Jarrue Sedai and I. If they can 
be trusted, we will find out."

"They were fighting for Aislynn -and- Theowyn as needed." Rennar murmurs, 
smirking a bit, "House Roesone is one of the other largest supporting Houses 
for the throne, or have you forgotten that?" She tilts her head a bit, "I will 
make my own judgements on things, though I thank you for your concern."

"As needed," Tristan returns calmly. "Need is nothing to a Warder, My Lady; I 
exist not for need but against need, that it should never be." Voice now 
touched with the barest hint of a winter chill, there is no anger in the man's 
eyes, but only a deep sorrow, and a certain vague sense of recalcitrant 
acceptance might be gleaned therein. "Do as you will, as you always do, and 
toss my concern to the winds--but I shall never bow my head to that man."

"I think you base your judgement on petty biases." Rennar frowns a bit, "I had 
hoped to think I was bringing good news to your ears, but I can see that I am 
not. It also seems that if Naya feels the same way I may not have any business 
in Tar Valon after all, as I had thought. I bid you a good evening." Before 
Tristan has much of a chance to say anything, the rather emtoional Rennar turns 
on her heel and starts to make way for the door.

Tristan seems unsurprised to hear that Naya's views mirror his own, but if 
Rennar thinks to so easily give a Gaidin the slip, she is in for a surprise, at 
the least. He does reach out in an effort to clasp her shoulder as she rushes 
past, saying, "Wait, Cousin--"

The shoulder is caught, though Rennar's words come out rather icy and 
detatched, "I don't think we've anything more to discuss. I have arrangements 
to make before we leave this evening."

"You mistake me, my cousin," Tristan says, his own unhurried way of speaking 
keeping the words from being cold, hurt, or shadowed by sorrow as he releases 
her freely. "If you love Demonder, marry him; I cannot stop you. Yet I have no 
love for the man, and no respect. He smiles to my face, and behind my back he 
polishes daggers, words tossed to the ears of one he does not know listens. 
Think of it--and realize that the nature of a man is unchanging."

"He may love you now, but if you step wrong with him, you'd best have Halice at 
your back." Tristan sighs, and nods as if to himself. As he too turns away, the 
last murmured sentence can almost not be discerned. "I am bound to the Tower 
now, and forever."

"You do not know Demonder as I know him, nor do I need approval and blessings 
from anyone. You are right in saying that I will do as I wish. And I've seen 
even the lowliest of men change for a single cause, so I will not realize that 
no one can ever change. Good evening to you, cousin. Light be with you." Foot 
steps can be heard as Rennar once more starts for the exit, not once looking 
back. She seems almost eager to be gone - uncomfortable at being in the 
building.

"I give you my share of any blessing the Light favours me with, Cousin," 
Tristan says, pausing, half-turning to regard her back as she flees. "You shall 
need it more than I, I fear...." But those words are lost, to her and to time, 
and only he can know what is said in that final parting moment.

Passing through the open doors, you walk out of the Tower and down a set of 
broad stairs.