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Name: Novalea Waveflame
Pronunciation: No-vuh-lee Wave-flame
Age: 26
Nationality: Cairhienin
Ajah: Formerly Brown
Position: Amyrlin Seat
Talents: Balefire, Warding
Warder: Forney Greenbow

Mental and Physical Description:
Novalea is considered tall for a Cairhienen, at five feet five inches tall. She has golden brown hair that reaches to her waist, and clear blue eyes. She is of an average weight, not incredibly thin, and is considered graceful, even for an Aes Sedai.

Most who meet her would say she is radiant. She always seems at peace, and never jumps in anger at anyone. Though she HAS been known to use scarcasm on rare occasions, such as with her Warder, Forney Greenbow. She keeps a cool head, and never reacts out of fear or irritation. Most would describe her as passive, and aggressive with a cool exterior.

Biography:
Novalea was born a Cairhienen Noble. Her Father was well renowned for his weath and popularity, even with the King. She was the younger of two daughters, and her sister Morghana, always seemed to steal the lime light.

Her Father, who was an easily irritable tyrant, constantly berated Novalea and tried to force her to be more like her sister. Morghana was elegant, poised, refined; the perfect Noble. Novalea, on the other hand, was lucky if she used the right fork to eat her salad with.

She realized that she was never going to please her father at the age of eleven. Morghana, fourteen at the time, followed him like a puppy everywhere he went. Novalea shied more toward her mother, who, like Novalea herself, was quite "down to earth" and easy going. Novaleas mother had married her father, but before had been a peasant. Novalea was never sure how exactly the two of them came to be together, and she never thought it wise to ask.

When she turned fourteen herself, the entire family was summoned to the palace. It seemed that the Amyrlin Seat herself was in Cairhien, on official business. Novalea had seen a few Aes Sedai in her life, but never so many at once. Several of them identified her immediatly and approached her father about her ability to channel. Lord Waveflame, outraged by his younger daughters ability to outshine his older, insisted they take Novalea to Tar Valon immediately.

She was nervous in starting as a Novice, and over the first three years she made many friends. However, she was always gullible to people in need, and when a Seancean woman and her Damane tricked Novalea into a back alley, she was captured as Damane herself.

She spent five years in Seancean custody, and by mere luck, befriended her Sul'Dam and managed to escape. When she at last returned to Tar Valon, the Amyrlin Seat herself said Novalea was no longer weak enough in the power to remain a Novice, and she was raised to Accepted a few days later.

Four more years of training brought Novalea to her last raising. She was still much younger than many of the Aes Sedai, but the situation was crucial. She was one of the strongest Tower trainees they had seen in years, and the Amyrlin, assasinated in secret by Darkfriends, had named her as a successor with her last breath. Nervous, and wilful as ever, Novalea held the oath rod and took her vows as an Aes Sedai of the Brown Ajah, unknowing of the fate that awaited her.

No less than a week after her obtaining the shawl, she was brought before the hall. The Aes Sedai there informed her of the Amyrlins last wish, and so it came to be that Novalea became the Amyrlin herself, and chose Allinore Kayberna as her Keeper of the Chronicles, as they had been friends since Novicehood.

Audition Piece:

The study was dim, but no more so than usual. With a slightly unsteady hand, Novalea dipped the quill into the ink pot again and continued the letter she was writing. She had to keep her insistance on this matter, above all others! Frowning, she tried to focus on the parchment, but the single candle on her desk did not provide enough light to continue. Still, it was a letter that could not wait until morning. With a sigh, she channeled a wisp of fire and lit another, on the opposite corner. That would have to do, for now.

At last, she finished her letter, and she placed a blotting page over the wet ink. When she peeled them apart again, she scanned over her words with clear blue eyes that had seen too much for someone so young. (Yes, that has to be right. There is no other reason for me to write to her.) Nodding, she folded the page and dripped sealing wax onto the front. Then, she pressed the seal of the Amyrlin Seat, a white teardrop, into the wax and sat it on the desk to dry. When the wax hardened, Novalea took up the letter and tucked it into her pouch, blowing out the candles before she went to the window sill to fetch a dove. She should have written a few copies, but it was too dangerous, should the letter fall into the wrong hands. Novalea had been unable to ward the letters, as the person recieving it... Well, she really didn't want to think about that.

She stood at the window watching for a long moment as the white dove flew off into the night. There couldn't be anything that went wrong now. She had to have faith that the Pattern would not fail human kind. Pursing her lips, she turned around, jumping in surprise as a knock came at the door. Breathing heavily, Novalea composed herself, and went to open it. Hand outstretched over the knob, the door flew open suddenly, knocking her aside. Scrambling quickly to her feet, Novalea embraced the source as the black figure slipped into the room, glittering knives held in each hand.

"Afraid?" The voice that emerged from the man was a hiss, the perfect imitation of a garden snake. Novalea took a step back, in spite of herself, and then threw a wall of air at the figure. Crying out in anger, the man flew hard against the door, slamming it shut as his weight fell into it. Frowning, Novalea held a weaving of fire ready, in case he came at her again. She was talented in...darker...channeling, but no one knew about that. It was something she thought best kept a secret. The man staggered to his feet, holding his head with an empty hand. One of his knives had fallen, and it lay on the floor before him.

Without thinking, Novalea released the ball of fire, and wrapped him tightly in flows of air. Shouting, he fell to the ground, and Novalea approached him, taking the knife from the floor, and then prying the other from his fingers. She placed both of them into a warded box on her desk before kneeling down and wrapping his face with air so the sound was cut out. She raised his chin with her hand, searching his eyes. (Not a Gray Man, then. If only a simple Darkfriend, how did he get past...) Panic filled her, and she left the man lying there as she raced out of the anteroom and into the well-lit hallway. Her warder, Forney, lay there on the floor, one side of his head bleeding, and a deep wound in his chest.

"Oh Light! Please be alive!" Novalea found the bond still present and sighed with relief. He was still breathing, too, if only weakly. She wasn't very talented in healing, but she could at least stop the blood flow until a Yellow Sister could help him. Embracing the source, she had to concentrate deeply to heal his wounds enough to stop the blood from flowing. The floor was already slick with red, warm liquid, and it had soaked into her skirts as well. Breathing heavily, Novalea stood up, leaving Forney there for a moment while she retreated to her study. The Darkfriend was still laying there, eyes wide open and angry. Novalea lifted him with strands of air and carried him out into the hallway, where Forney still lay. Carelessly, she broke the strands holding the Darkfriend in mid-air, and let him drop loudly to the floor tiles.

She needed help, and she needed it fast. Still, she wasn't about to leave both of the men unattended in the hall. Allinores quarters were just around the corner, perhaps she could fetch Yellow sisters, and Warders while Novalea guarded the men. Nodded to herself, she took the few strides to her Keepers door, and knocked loudly. A few short moments brought Allinore to the door, looking irritable. When she saw Novalea, and the blood dripping from her dress, her eyes went wide.

"Mother!" She gasped.

"I'm fine." She told her. "Daughter, there has been an issue inside my office. I need you to fetch two yellow sisters immediately, and summon the Warders as well. I need two of the Warders at my study to accompany an unwelcome guest to the dungeons where we may question him later."

"And the others?" Allinore asked, drawing a cloak around herself.

"The other Warders should prowl the Tower grounds for any sign of further intruders." Allinore nodded, and slipped past Novalea to vanish down the hall. She studied her Keepers retreating back for a moment before turning and going back to wait outside her study. When she arrived, Forney was awake, and struggling to sit up. Novalea rushed forward immediately and gently pushed him down again.

"Blood and Ashes." Forney coughed, breathing heavily. "What happened?" His eyes were drawn back, as if he was in an immense amount of pain.

"Its alright." Novalea said soothingly. She ran her fingers through his hair. "You fought well, my Gaidin." Forney nodded softly, too tired to argue, and closed his eyes, still struggling to breathe. In a few more moments, a herd of people came dashing down the corridor. Two Warders, Ryman, the Head Gaidin, and another who Novalea didn't recognize, lifted the Darkfriend to his feet.

The Yellow Sisters, Belatthia and Rienoa by name, curtsied to Novalea before settling down beside Forney. Novalea got to her feet, and took a few steps back to join Allinore and Jeseia Sedai, who had joined the group amid the chaos.

"What happened, Mother?" Ryman asked. Novalea struggled to keep her back strait and her chin high. She had been born a Noble, and the Light blind her if she wasn't going to act it now.

"I assume he is a Darkfriend. He attacked Forney, broke into my study and attempted to kill me. Had I been asleep, it would have been quite easy for him. Fortunately, he was too stupid to realize that." Her tone was dry, filled with sarcasm, but she didn't care. She was tired, so tired, and needed to sleep. "Please make sure he is well guarded, and that the Tower grounds are combed completely before the Novices and Accepted awaken. I don't want them leaving their rooms if there is any threat of danger, understood." Ryman bowed as best he could while holding the Darkfriend, and the two of them vanished down the hall with the mysterious man in tow.

"Are you sure you're alright, Mother?" Jesi asked. Novalea looked at the tiny woman and nodded. "Allinore and I shall escort you to your room."

"Thank you." Novalea was too tired to argue, though she had the suspicion that they were only going along to keep her standing. The Yellow sisters were still healing Forney, but from what Novalea could tell, he would live. She supressed a cry of joy, and allowed Allinore and Jesi to escord her down the hall toward her quarters.

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The morning dawned bright, and Novaleas eyes flickered open. She sat up in bed, feeling startled to see Forney sitting beside the bed with his head in his hands. He didn't look up until she moved, and then he jumped up and stared at her. Novalea smiled, happy to see him alive, and leapt out of bed to hug him tightly.

"Light Blind Me!" He said into her hair. "If he had managed to..." Novalea pulled away and put a hand to his lips.

"Don't say it, Forney." She told him, meeting his dark brown eyes meaningfully. "Please, don't say that." She let him embrace and hold her close, feeling safe again inside his arms. The only time she ever felt truly safe was when he was hugging her. They had never been more than friends, but he was everything to her, and she was sure he felt the same way. At last, they broke apart, and Novalea sat down on the bed to talk with him. "I need to question him, today." She mused, pursing her lips.

"I'll come along, if you don't mind." Forney said, causing a wave of shock to wash over her. Seldom did Forney say anything without a curse inside the sentence unless he was absolutely unbesotted with himself. Without saying a word, Novalea nodded, and went over to the washstand to prepare herself for the days work.

"Mother!" It was a shout, and it came when her bedroom door flew open and a chubby little Novice entered, flaming red hair piled atop her head, gray eyes wide in alarm. "Allinore Sedai sent me to find you Mother!" The Novice said, curtsying deeply. "She said she needs to see you right away!" Novalea finished fastening her dress calmly, and then turned to look at the Novice.

"I will see to it. You are to go to Saturn Sedai, and inform her that you do not know how to knock, or properly enter a room." The Novice went ghost white, and Novalea refrained from smiling. Saturn was a nice woman, but only to those who deserved it. Novalea had no doubts that the Mistress of Novices would show this girl exactly where she belonged. Curtsying, the Novice vanished from the room and closed the door softly behind her. Draping the striped stole around her shoulders, Novalea nodded to Ryman, and the two of them left the room, heading for Allinores study.

"Mother, I see Carolina gave you my message." Said Allinore, standing up and giving Novalea a brief curtsy. The Keeper did not look happy.

"What in the name of the Light is going on?" Novalea asked, her tone as demanding as her Sisters had always been. Allinore sighed, rubbing her temples.

"Mother, the Darkfriend, and the two Warders guarding him have been killed."

"What?" Novalea gasped, covering her mouth with her hand. "Ryman...?"

"No, Mother. The Head Gaidin was not the one guarding. The two stationed were unbonded, Mother. Gilgrean and Firanel."

"When?"

"We suspect it happened sometime during the night. When Ryman and Jerian went down this morning to change shifts with Gilgrean and Firanel, they found the three of them, then."

"Thank you, Allinore." Novalea said, turning on her heel and speeding out of the study.

"Where are we going?" Forney asked, chasing after her.

"The dungeons." Novalea said with a determined frown. "I want to see this for myself." Forney grasped her arm, stopping her in mid step. "What?"

"Are you sure that's a good idea, Novalea?" His dark curls shifted as he shook his head. "I don't know, myself."

"I am the Amyrlin Seat, Forney. It is part of my duty to see it for myself." Relenting hesitantly, he let go of her arm, and she took off down the hall again. He was no more than two steps behind her as they made their way down the elegant spiraled ramps, and then down the back staircase to the dungeons. She had had the Darkfriend sent to one of the lowest levels, and the lower she and Forney went, the colder it got. Novalea almost wished she had brought her cloak. When they reached the level the cell was on, Novalea pulled open the heavy door and went inside the dimly lit chamber. There were others there as well, a brown sister, and her companion, studying the area and scribbling furiously in notepads. They curtsied breifly to Novalea before going on.

Taking a moment to breathe, Novalea surveyed the room. The two Warders lay on the ground. One had a severed head, and the contents, along with most of the fluids, had scattered across the floor. Novalea refrained from losing the contents of her stomach. The second warder had been sliced into several pieces, and his blood had stained and dried the floorstones. Forney cursed under his breath behind her, and for once, she ignored it. Lifting her skirts, she stepped over the Warders bodies and peered into the bloodcell. The Darkfriend, at least, had died a much less disgusting death. The man lay on his stomach, and a black sword stuck up from his back. Frowning, Novalea returned to Forney, who was standing in the corner plugging his nose.

"This is not good at all." She muttered, pulling him out of the chamber and leaving the Brown sisters alone. "I just hope Sonora recieved my letter." With a heavy sigh, she picked up her skirts and headed back up the stairs. It was time for her to make a proclamation, and make sure that the Novices and Accepted remained safe. Even if the Amyrlin Seat was the true target, there were no gaurantees that no one else would get caught in the cross fire. "Forney, I want you to go to your brother and have him make all the Warders aware." Forney nodded, and when they got to the main level again, took off toward the training yards.

Novalea sighed, and headed off to her office. She had things to do, and only a limited time in which to do them in.

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