Chelsey was sitting on her bed, brushing her long auburn hair when there was a knock at the door. She put he brush down on her tiny table and opened the door into the small room. There stood Liranan Sedai, who looked as she usually did, face of stone, but this time Chelsey could sense a hidden smile. "It is time, Chelsey DeLorn." said the MoN. "Time for what?" but she was talking to the Aes Sedai's back. Chelsey quickly slipped on her slippers and rushed after the MoN.

It was dark, darker then the rest of the Tower. And it smelled weird. Not a bad smell, but the smell of age. They were going to the greatest depths of the Tower and Chelsey was beginning to get nervous. She had to watch her step on the worn stairs so it was hard to get a good look at her surroundings. Just when Chelsey thought the corridor would last forever, Liranan stopped in front of a big door, opening it slowly into a brightly lit room....    Or at least it seemed bright after the darkness of the staircase. Chelsey's eyes adjusted to the light and saw first the three large rings standing up by themselves it looked like. Then she noticed the three Aes Sedai sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of the Arches. They seemed to be concentrating intensely on the Arches because they made no move at the sound of the door or anything else for that matter. She noticed a few more Aes Sedai then turned to Liranan Sedai. "What is this?" she asked in a whisper. "These are the three Arches, your test for Acceptedhood. Are you ready to begin?" Chelsey nodded her head slowly as the truth set in. I am being Raised. After all these years. Finally. Liranan moved into position and began.  "Now I will tell you two things no woman hears until she stands in this room. Once you begin, you must go on to the end. Refuse at any point, and you will be put out of the Tower just as if you had refused to begin for the first time. Second, to seek, to strive, is to know danger, and there is danger in these Arches." Danger. It sounded bad. Chelsey barely heard the rest of the intonation until... "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. Do you wish to go on?" This was it. Now, or later. Better get it over with. "I will go on." Chelsey said in a voice so calm itsurprised her. Liranan then instructed her to remove her Novice dress and as she did so she thought about what she was getting ready to do. Face your fears. But can I do that? What are my fears? As Chelsey bundled up her dress and put it in a corner Liranan turned to another Aes Sedai and began the rest of the ceremony...   "Whom do you bring with you, Sister?" intoned an Aes Sedai.

"One who comes as a candidate for Acceptance, Sister."

"Is she ready?"

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

"Does she know her fears?"

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

"Then let her face what she fears."

Liranan Turned to Chelsey and smiled a bit. "The first time is for what was. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast." And with that Chelsey slipped into the blinding light...

And into a beautiful garden. The Creator's Garden. She was home. She turned just in time to see him slipping behind a bush. Chelsey giggled and ran after him. It was time for hide-and-go-seek. He always let her catch him. It was more fun with all the tickles and kisses. Chelsey crept behind a big tree and snuck up on his right. With him looking to the left it made him easy prey. She sprung and jumped at him, catching him in a hug and smothering his little face with wet kisses. "Mommy, stop" he said through his laughs, "That tickles. Mommy, lets go have a picnic." said the little sandy haired boy. "O.k., Tynin. Where do you want it?" Chelsey beamed down at her son. She was so happy her heart felt like it might burst with joy. Be Steadfast But what if I want to stay here forever? Do I really have to go back? Chelsey knew that this wouldn't last forever. She knew that when the silver Arch appeared she would have to leave, but did she really? I am finally with my son. I am finally happy. Tynin jumped over to a shady spot by the river and plopped down. "Right here, Mommy. Use the magic to give us a picnic." The magic. Int he Creator's Garden, a mere thought could bring something to you and Tynin knew that. He had been here much longer than Chelsey but he loved letting his Mommy do it for him. Chelsey brought up the image of a blanket spread out over the grass with every goodie that came to mind on it. At the blink of an eye, it was all there. They both sat together and ate to their hearts content.

They were sitting just watching the water go by when something caught the edge of Chelsey's eye. She turned her head and saw the dreadful Arch. She turned away form it. She wanted to stay with her son. She wanted to play and eat goodies and laugh and give him kisses. She was happy. She looked down into Tynin's face and tears sprung to her eyes. No, she had to go. She didn't belong here. Not yet. "Go on, Mommy. I'll be here waiting for you to come back. It may seem like a long time, but it really won't be. You have so many good things to do yet. I love you, Mommy." Chelsey held her small boy in her arms. Tears ran down her face. "I'll miss you." she said through a choked throat. "I know, Mommy, but don;t forget that I am with you always." He is such a smart little boy. she thought to herself Can I really leave him again? "You have to go now, Mommy. It is fading." Chelsey stood and held his hand as long as she could then steeled herself as she went through the white light of the Arch.

Chelsey sat on the cold stone floor and cried. Cried for the loss of her child, cried for the fact that he would never be able to share his kind spirit with anyone else, and mostly she cried because she knew he was right. She didn't belong there, yet. Her tears were washed away as Liranan Sedai poured water form a silver chalice over her head. "You are washed clean of any sin you may have committed. You are washed clean of any sin against you. You come to us washed clean in heart and soul." Chelsey stood and was guided to the next Arch. "The Second Arch is for what is. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast...." Chelsey took a step and was engulfed in light....

"...and furthermore, you are unfit to stay at this Tower. You are lazy, weak and have learned almost nothing in the years you have been here." Liranan Sedai had almost reached a screaming voice and her face was flushed red with anger. "You will be given some clothes, a few gold pieces, and a horse and you will be sent on your way." Chelsey had tears streaming down her face. "But Aes Sedai, I didn't do it. I wasn't the one who set the fire. I wasn't even..."

"Silence girl. You were the only one in the area and you are the only Novice who has done something like this before...I have heard all the excuses I ever want to hear the rest of my life come from your mouth and I will hear no more. Now, go to your room and pack your meager belongings. I will come for you in two hours' time." Chelsey tried a few more vane attempts at voicing her innocence, but to no avail. She walked slowly through the halls of the Tower of Chasaline. The halls that she swept and mopped and ran through and laughed in. She walked by several of her fellow Novices, but they had all been told about what she had supposedly done and her punishment. They kept as far from her as possible...as if she were contagious. She walked into her room and stopped short with a gasp. Why is she in my room? Chelsey started to ask that question out loud when Serena turned around with a smile. "Well now, I heard they threw you out of the Tower. It's a pity you know. I wonder who will get your room? I always thought it a little unfair that you got your own room while the rest of us have to share." Serena looked evil then. Chelsey backed away, afraid of the girl all of a sudden. "It was you, wasn't it? You started the fire in the library. Why Serena? Why would you try to get me into trouble?" Serena threw her head back and laughed. "Why? Why not? You think you are so much better then the rest of us. They treated you like a glass doll. Giving you all the light chores while the rest of us had to work extra hard to make up for it. You know they were going to Raise you last onth? I had to put a stop to that. It just wouldn't have been right for to get off so easy. So I trashed the Mistress of Novices office and got you blamed. Every little thing that has been going wrong for you has been because of me. I am rather proud of myself. I actually thought I was going to get caught for the fire." Chelsey looked at Serena through newly shed tears. "I could go tell Liranan Sedai, right now. She would find out the truth." Serena gave a look of mock sympathy. "No I don't think so. You see, it would be hard to leave this room when you are dead." Chelsey tried to scream, but Serena was using a gag of Air on her. It was then that Chelsey noticed the curved dagger in Serena's hand. Serena wrapped Chelsey with more Air to keep her in place as she slowly walked towards her bringing the knife to her throat height. Chelsey tried to struggle her way out of her bonds, but the more she struggled, the tighter they got until it was hard to take a breath. Serena was only a few steps away when Chelsey felt something behind her. She had just enough leverage to turn her head a bit and see a silver Arch out of the corner of her eye. Chelsey stopped her struggle and tried to think. She could grasp the Power. Serena had not yet learned to do shields. But if she was slow about it might be to late anyway. Serena now had the knife pressed against Chelsey's slender neck. One little flick of the wrist and it was all over. Chelsey reacted. She threw Serena across the room with a large weave of Air and grabbed hold of Fire, formed it into a knife and cut her bonds of Air. But Serena was just a little to fast. She threw the dagger and pinned Chelsey's shoulder to the wall behind her. Bracing herself, Chelsey grabbed the dagger, took a deep breath and pulled with all her might. A jolt of pain that almost made her pass out washed over her. She sagged then remembered that Serena was still trying to get up. Chelsey turned towards the Arch and with her last bit of strength rushed through the blazing white light...

...and into the dim surroundinf\gs of the testing room. There was blood all over her arm and matted in her long hair, but when a Yellow rushed over to heal her, there was not even a scratch. Chelsey kneeled down on the cold stone floor to preserve what little strength she had left in her legs. Cold water was poured over her head as Liranan Sedai said,  "You are washed clean of false pride. You are washed clean of false ambition. You come to us washed clean, heart and soul."

Again, Liranan Sedai helped Chelsey to her feet and pointed her to another Arch. "The 3rd Arch is for what will be. They way back will come but once. Be steadfast." No, not again. I don't want to go through anymore pain. Chelsey swayed a bit on her feet and Liranan righted her. You must go through or you will be put out of the Tower. You have no where else to go. With a renewed determination, Chelsey pushed herself through the 3rd and final Arch...

...and into an open field on the border of Amidicia. Chelsey Sedai sat on her bay stallion and looked out on the prisoners. WhiteCloaks all of them, but one in particular caught her eye. She pulled her horse around and trotted to the small group of dirty men and called her Warder to her side. "Ivan, bring that man to me." The Warder quickly obeyed his Aes Sedai's command and the man was brought before Chelsey. She slid off her horse and walked over to the decrepit scum with the missing eye. "You, where did you lose that eye? Tell the truth or I have ways to get it out of you." The Green Sister glared at the man, and under that hurtful stare he began to wither. He became a shell of himself. He sagged and starting sobbing in Ivan's strong arms. "I lost it many years ago when my troops and I burned a village." The man started to gain back his anger and stood taller. As he told his story, he grew frothy at the mouth a spittle flew from his lips. "I found a young witch, her family tried to hide her, but we killed them. We killed them all and then got to her. We took her and beat her. The witch used her magic on us. She killed a friend of mine and took my eye, but we took care of her. We left her dead on the beside her burning village." The man had the audacity to look proud of himself! Well, I will soon fix that. "That is not completely true. You see, you may have left her, but she was far from dead. Look at me." Chelsey removed her hood and shook out her long auburn hair. "You raped that girl didn't you?" The man sputtered. "Of course not! How dare you accuse a Child of the Light of rape!? We uphold the Creator's work, unlike you, witch." Ivan gave the man a smart rap on the head and a glower that said he would kill him in an instant. "You lie, you scum of the earth. You see I AM that little girl and I remember you quite clearly. I have been searching for you ever since I became Aes Sedai and now it is time to repay you for all the pain you have given me." The man looked ashen, then began to laugh. "How can you do that? Aes Sedai aren't supposed to be able to use the Power to harm others. You can't hurt me." Chelsey let her lips curl into a sardonic smile. "You are going to wish hat were true. You see, I also brought the Oath Rod with me. Any oaths made on this rod can also be unmade." Chelsey pulled the slender rod from her saddlebag and held it in her hands. Ivan began to protest. "Do you think that is really such a good i..." "Quiet! I am finally able to do what is right and I will do it. With or without your help, Ivan." Chelsey channeled a thread of Spirit into the rod and said the Oath. "I forsake all oaths that bind me." The familiar tingle ran through her body and Chelsey could feel the Oath release her. She smiled again. "Now, little man, would you like to know the pain of losing a child? Or the pain of knowing you may never have more? Or just the pain of your body being violated by lust hungry men? I have so much pain I can give you. So many years of tears. I will make you sorry for each and every person you may have ever hurt." Chelsey lashed the man with flows of Air to keep him still. "I can make the pain last for an eternity you know. You will suffer like no man has ever suffered before." Chelsey began forming her complex weave. A weave she had been working on for many, many years, just for this moment...it was then that she felt something to her right. Be steadfast. She turned and stared at the Arch for what seemed like forever. No, it can't be. Not now of all times. I have finally found him. I can finally make him pay. Please, I just need more time. The Arch began to flicker. The way back will come but once.  If I don't go now, I will never be able to go back again. But I have him in my grasp. Is it really worth it? With a rage she had thought long forgotten, Chelsey screamed her frustration and leaped through he Arch...

...and once again into the dimly lit testing room. She landed hard, her knees scraping across the hard stone floor, the palms of her hands bruising. Liranan Sedai tried to help her up, but Chelsey pushed her away. Tears of anger and hatred streamed down her face. "Don't touch me! Don't anyone ever touch me! I hate you all! I had him and you made me let him go!" Chelsey slumped down on her raw and bleeding knees as the last chalice of water was poured over her head. "You are washed clean of Chelsey DeLorn, of Arad Doman. You come to us washed clean in heart and soul. You are Chelsey DeLorn, Accepted of the Tower of Chasaline." The Great Serpent ring was slipped onto her finger and the banded hem dress slipped over her head. She felt so numb inside.