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New Spring: Chapter 11

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Just Before Dawn

Summary

Moiraine POV � Early the next morning Moiraine prepares for the raising ceremony.1 There is a knock on her door. Seven Aes Sedai are there to escort her. They include Elaida for the Red and Jeaine for the Green. They proceed to Siuan's room and bring her as well. They return to the chamber where they were tested where Tamra, Aeldra, the Sitters and two more Aes Sedai of each Ajah await. Each of the extra Aes Sedai bears a shawl for Moiraine and Siuan to choose.2 They step through oval ring and approach Tamra. Tamra takes the Oath Rod from Aeldra, places it in Moiraine's hands and channels Spirit. Moiraine speaks the three oaths:

  1. "I vow that I will speak no word that is not true."
  2. "I vow that I will make no weapon for one man to kill another."
  3. "I vow that I will never use the One Power as a weapon except against Shadowspawn, or in the last extreme of defending my life or that of my Warder or of another sister."

and at each one she feels her skin tighten to the point of pain. Tamra repeats the process with Siuan. As they both walk toward the Blue Ajah sisters to chose their shawls, Tamra and the sisters of the other Ajahs depart, though Aeldra remains. Leane lays the shawl on Moiraine's shoulders and Rafela does the same for Siuan.3 The Sitters, Eadyth, Anlee and Lelaine, welcome them to the Blue Ajah. Aeldra, being the sixth to welcome them, claims a hand made pie from each. Eadyth charges Leane and Rafela to escort Moiraine and Siuan to tour the White Tower as Aes Sedai and enter the Blue Ajah quarters. Ancient custom was to parade through the White Tower clad only in the shawl, but Leane quickly forgoes the tradition. Leane was Accepted with them for a time. Rafela was raised the year before Leane,3 but strangely she defers to Leane.4 Leane reminds Rafela how Verin embarrassed her on her walk, telling her she had a sweet voice for singing. Leane reveals the secret title of the head of the Blue Ajah, the First Selector. Rafela regales them with a list of arcane Blue Ajah customs, including that they should refrain from marrying. Blue is the second smallest Ajah after White. They enter the Blue Ajah quarters to find the hall lined with every Blue sister in Tar Valon, all but Aeldra wearing their shawl.

Notes

  1. She is also sore. She and Siuan were caught last night with the mice and sent to Merean. (NS,Ch17)
  2. Although it is not explicitly stated, one assumes that there would only be one additional Aes Sedai for each Ajah with a shawl if only one Accepted is to be raised.
  3. Neither Leane nor Rafela has the ageless look yet. Custom is that the most recently raised Aes Sedai offer the shawl. (NS,Ch14)
  4. Because Leane is stronger. (NS,Ch12) Moiraine and Siuan will just now begin learning many customs.
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