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From rec.arts.sf.written.robert-jordan Sun Jul 2 14:50:10 1995 Path: cc.gatech.edu!erica From: erica@cc.gatech.edu () Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written.robert-jordan Subject: ANNOUNCING THE RESULTS OF THE BELA CONTEST Date: 1 Jul 1995 00:29:31 -0400 Organization: College of Computing, Georgia Tech Lines: 856 Message-ID: <3t2ivb$rhg@cleon.cc.gatech.edu> NNTP-Posting-Host: cleon.cc.gatech.edu NNTP-Posting-User: erica ********************************************************************** The Trustees of the Jordan FAQ Dowager Association Proudly Present THE TABULATED RESULTS OF THE ANTEPENULTIMATE BELA CONTEST ********************************************************************** Thank you everyone for a delightful contest, lots of votes and a fun time had by all! Congratulations to all our winners. ------------------------------------- AND INTRODUCING....THE GUILTY PARTIES ------------------------------------- THE CAST PARTY (Bela Instinct, Entry 1) ************************ * FIRST PRIZE * * Most Humorous Entry * ************************ ************************ * SECOND PRIZE * * Most Novel Entry * *********[TIE]********** ************************ * THIRD PRIZE * * Sir Empiess Memorial * ************************ Author: Jared Lord Feehan (jdfeehan@merle.acns.nwu.edu) THE LIMERICK (Entry 2) ************************ * SECOND PRIZE * * Sir Empiess Memorial * ************************ Author: HRM Karl Johann, Fungi Rex (k-j-nore@dsv.su.se) MIASMA NIGHT (Entry 3) ************************ * FIRST PRIZE * * Most Novel Entry * ************************ ************************ * SECOND PRIZE * * Most Exciting Entry * ************************ Author: Baron Michael Sabia (sabia@romulus.rutgers.edu) TEL'TEL'TEL'ARAN-RHIOD (Entry 4) ************************ * THIRD PRIZE * * Most Humorous Entry * ************************ Author: Erica Sedai (erica@cc.gatech.edu) THE RIDDLE (Entry 5) ************************ * HONORABLE MENTION * ************************ Author: Sir Hawkbite (garrett@cs.unc.edu) THE STORY NOT WRITTEN (Entry 6) ************************ * HONORABLE MENTION * ************************ Author: Goodman Brad Johnson (bgjohnso@news.amherst.edu) RACEHORSE (Entry 7) ************************ * FIRST PRIZE * * Sir Empiess Memorial * ************************ ************************ * THIRD PRIZE * * Most Exciting Entry * ************************ Author: The (Late) Michael Sir Empiess (ghesmiz@strauss.udel.edu) NEIGH'BLIS (Entry 8) ************************ * FIRST PRIZE * * Most Exciting Entry * ************************ ************************ * SECOND PRIZE * * Most Novel Entry * *********[TIE]********** Author: Erica Sedai (erica@cc.gatech.edu) POINT/COUNTERPOINT (Entry 9) ************************ * HONORABLE MENTION * ************************ Authors: Sir Hawkbite and Det. Hohn Darlow (garrett@cs.unc.edu, donh@netcom.com) FRED AND VIRGIL (Entry 10) ************************ * SECOND PRIZE * * Most Humorous Entry * ************************ Author: Mark the Loy (mloy@indyvax.iupui.edu) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE ENTRIES ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *********** * ENTRY 1 * *********** Author: Jared Lord Feehan (jdfeehan@merle.acns.nwu.edu) ************************ ************************ ************************ * FIRST PRIZE * * SECOND PRIZE * * THIRD PRIZE * * Most Humorous Entry * * Most Novel Entry * * Sir Empiess Memorial * ************************ *********[TIE]********** ************************ Bela Instinct Bela was bored. "What do I do now? I've just read the script for the next book, _Lord of Chaos_, and I have the smallest of roles--and it's not even me, just a 'dream Bela.' What a farce! Everyone knows that _I'm_ the Lord of Chaos. Hmpf." Suddenly: "BELA, DO NOT DISPAIR. YOU WILL BE A MAJOR CHARACTER IN THE NEXT BOOK." "Oh, yeah? And why should I believe you? Wait--who are you anyway?" "IT IS I, THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS EQUINE." "Figures. Rand gets to speak to the Creator, and I just get to speak to the Horse Creator. Why's that? I'm sick of being underused. You hear that Robert Jordan, wherever you are? If I don't get a bigger part in the next book, I'm going to quit the series and join _Melrose Place_. They'll love me there." "AHEM. I WAS TALKING, BELA." "Yeah, well, so what? Like I've never talked to a Deity before. Right." "NO, YOU HAVEN'T." "Oh yes I have. I didn't say a good Deity, y'know. The Great Lord of the Dark doesn't like to be looked down on. It's really sad: he's always sitting around Shayol Ghul crying his eyes out, saying how noone loves him and how he has to keep on resurrecting his friends from the dead and how he's really tired and how he'd rather have just been a poet, but no, his father made him become the Dark One. Really sad." "AHEM. I WAS TALKING, BELA. AS I WAS SAYING, YOU WILL BE A MAJOR CHARACTER IN THE NEXT BOOK." "Yeah, well so what! I'm sick of waiting around for a year, and this time a year and a half, just for a small little role. Y'know I was offered the lead in 'Nell' but no, RJ wouldn't let me out of my contract. So I'm stuck neighing about and carrying females around on my back. What a job!" "FINE. I'LL GIVE YOU SOMETHING MORE TO DO IN _LORD OF CHAOS_. BUT MIND YOU, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE IN THE ACTUAL BOOK." "Yeah, so what! As long as I get to do something. I haven't even had a romance yet! And why have I yet to be mentioned in a prophesy. It's part of my contract: page two, paragraph three: 'Bela will be alluded to in at least one prophesy and have a pivotal role in the conclusion of the series.' It's right there. And it better not be stupid: I don't want to lose a hoof over this." "YOU CAN QUIT WHINING, IT'S NOT VERY BECOMING IN A HORSE." "Horses whinny, they don't whine. And how are you to know, Mr. Horse Creator, sir? All you do is sit around and 'create' all day. _I'm_ the one who has to do all the real work. And what thanks do I get? None. Feh." "SHUT UP, BELA." "You can't tell me to shut up, you little--" "YES I CAN. AND I'M GETTING SICK OF YOU. GET OUT OF MY FACE." Just then: Bela evaporated into thin air, and reappeared elsewhere. Waving her fist, er, hoof in the air, Bela said, "You won't get away with this, Horse Creator. You'll be hearing from my agent!" "Save your breath, kid. It won't work." Bela turned around and saw who had spoken to him: Moiraine. But it was not just her in the room. There was Lanfear, and Tam, and Hurin, and Elyas, and Galad, and Asmodean, and Cenn Biue, and Bayle Domon, and Egeanin, and a few others. Bela had seen them all before at the cast parties upon the completion of some of the books. But Lanfear and Moiraine hadn't bothered to show up at the last one. "Moiraine, why are you here? Hasn't Thom found you yet? And you, Lanfear?" Moiraine, who was looking very un-Aes Sedai-like in a scullery woman's outfit, answered, "No, Thom has not found me yet. That good for nothing, wool-headed brat. If it wasn't in my contract that I have to marry him, I'd never do it. I'm dreading the wedding night right now. And his laxity at trying to find me is disgusting. I'm still in that damn Tower of Ghen'whatever. Sheesh." "But why are you here?" Bela looked around at the room the bunch were sitting in. It was painted a disgusting olive green with purple polka-dots. The furniture was all a bright yellow stuck haphazardly around the room, and the one, bright red door that would lead out was covered with chains--alot of them. "Why am I here? That's what I've been asking myself for a long time now, Bela. You'd think that I, a very major character, wouldn't have gotten 'killed off' just because the damn script writer couldn't come up with a better way to get Lan off my shoulders. Well! And it was in my contract from day one that I'd get a chapter icon of my own. I had one, until Lanfear showed up. And RJ decided to 'sacrifice' my beautiful icon for the sake of her stupid one." Moiraine turned and sneered at Lanfear. Lanfear sneered back. "Where was I? Oh yeah, I had just been stuck in the Tower, and I was sitting around, playing cards with Lanfear (she cheats like a drunken sailor)--" "I do not! Just because I always win doesn't mean I cheat. And just because you saw me with a couple aces up my sleeve doesn't mean I would've used them. It's just, it's just, it's just the new fashion in Ebou Dar--wearing aces in your sleeves. Honest! Ask anybody!" Lanfear, in an all-white scullery maid outfit, and feeling like she had just come up with a great excuse, smiled beatifically (as beatific smilers usually do) and batted her eyes. Moiraine rolled her eyes at Lanfear. She leaned over to Bela's ear, "She's such a bad actress. She just got the part by sleeping with Jordan. Though I wouldn't tell his wife about that if I were you." Then to everyone: "As I was saying, I was in the Tower of Ghen'jei playing cards with Lanfear and drinking Zima's. You'd think those Finn creatures would stock wine, but no, they only had Zima's. Blech! Well, I was sitting there drinking when guess who should show up. Yup, the old Jordan guy himself. He said he was visiting us both, but I had my suspicions. I stood up, and in a drunken rage told RJ that he had better stick me in _Lord of Chaos_ or I'd tell his wife that he was empiessing the old bitch over there." Lanfear sneered. "I am not old!" Moiraine sneered back (Bela was beginning to wonder if that was the only emotion the two had) and continued: "He was not amused. He said, 'How dare you? You were nothing until I started writing this series. Sure you were on a Love Boat episode once, but who hasn't been. You wanted to be more than just another Charo, just another Captain Stubing. And that's why you came to me and begged to be Moiraine. I had always pictured Moiraine as a six foot six giant of a woman, but you convinced me that a short Moiraine would still be good. And now you dare to blackmail me!' Needless to say, I found myself in this room: the Den of the Underused Characters. And then that fat whore over there showed up when RJ moved on to the greener pastures of Aviendha." Lanfear sneered, "I am not fat! And Aviendha, that bitch! She's been trying to get a bigger role ever since she first appeared. Ooh, I hate her!" Lanfear sat down on a sofa, swearing to herself and twiddling her thumbs rapidly. Moiraine looked down, depressed (Aha! Bela thought. Another emotion!). "Why does _she_ have to be here?" Tam walked over and patted Bela on her back. "Bela, I've been here ever since the cast party of _The Shadow Rising_. I showed up with Perrin and Faile and Alanna and Verin and Cenn Biue. RJ just told us to wait here for awhile, and we agreed. They're all gone now, but Cenn. Hurin was already here, as was that Simion guy over there in the corner." He pointed. Simion sat staring at the corner repeating, "I will be back. He said I will be back. I will be back...." Bela frowned. "Poor guy. Who is he? I just met him that one time at the cast party of _The Dragon Reborn_. He seemed happy there." "Yeah, well he was in one scene near the beginning of that book. It seems that RJ offered him a big contract. He was going to be the guy who 'came after' Rand and got Callandor in the end. But RJ changed his mind, and wouldn't let the guy out of his contract. Jordan told him that he'd find some way to bring Simion back, though of course Jordan was lieing. So he sits here waiting. Sad really. But not as sad as Hurin." He pointed. Hurin sat staring straight ahead of himself. Every once in awhile he blinked. "What's wrong with him?" Bela asked. "He's been that way since I've been here. Cenn says that Hurin first appeared here after _The Great Hunt_ cast party. Remember that party? Hurin was the life of it! He was so happy and confident. Well, Cenn said that in the beginning Hurin was fine. He said that RJ promised that he'd reappear in the middle of _The Dragon Reborn_ and stay in the action until the end of the series. So he just decided to sit and wait. He hasn't moved since. Poor guy." Bela pointed at another guy in a corner. "Who's he?" "Oh, that's the no-name guy. He was the first person here way back in the beginning of _The Eye of the World_. He was supposed to be another main character, but RJ trashed him after some infighting between Perrin and him. Perrin hated the guy; he thought that no-name was stuck-up. So Perrin told RJ, 'Either he goes or I go.' RJ really had no choice seeing as how Perrin was the big-name actor in the beginning having just come off of a two-year engagement on Seseme Street, and so no-name showed up here. In fact, Perrin decorated the room in this ugly color scheme just to annoy him, and he decided that anyone who shows up in this room should look like a maid or a butler"--Bela looked herself over: even she was wearing a tightly fitted French maid's outfit--"You should've seen the sparks fly when Perrin showed up. It was all the rest of us could do to just keep the two away from each other." Bela shook her head. She looked around, then at the door, then at Moiraine. "Moiraine, have you ever tried to just saidarize the door? We could then leave. Right?" "What? Oh, why no I haven't. What a novel idea." Moiraine then glowed with the Power, and the chains fell off the door. She smiled. Bela looked down and thought to herself: "What a bunch of morons. Couldn't even come up with that! That's what you get with a lot of actors, I guess." They opened the door and looked out. It was the cast party for _Lord of Chaos_. Rand meandered over to them. "Well, how do yous all doesing?" He burped. "I's just fine thank you ery mush. Here have some brainy, br-br-breny, bran-do, brandee. Yeah, that's it, brany! No, no, breny, brenda, brandy. Whatever. Drink up. And you little lady"--he pointed to Moiraine--"where'v you been keepin' yurself. Get yur hot little butt over here." Then, he fell to the ground, passed out. Moiraine sniffed. "Actors." She walked away. On the dance floor, the music was playing disco and Nynaeve (dressed in a miniskirt, high heels, and a tank top--all hot pink) and Logain (dressed in a toga) were causing quite a stir. Mat was seated plaintively in a corner reading his prayer book and praying that no woman would touch him and that noone would spike his orange juice. Egwene sauntered over to Mat, waving her vodka bottle in his face. "How'd you like to come up and see me sometime, big boy?" She sat on his lap. Mat read his prayer book louder, "Bless me, Creator. Bless me. Bless me." Egwene stood up. "Good for nothing, prude. Oh, Perrin, can you handle one more woman in your camp?" Perrin, sitting with Faile, Alanna, Min, Siuan, and Leane, waved her over. Suddenly Verin was on top of a table. Holding a bottle of gin in one hand and a lit cigarette in the other, she started to sing Jak o' Shadows to the beat of the music. She soon stopped as she caught Loial's eye across the room. "Oh, Loial! Follow me upstairs would you? I've gotta go to bed now. Why don't you join me?" She blinked; he followed. (Editor's note: Proof that Loial is not gay.) Elayne, drinking an anonymous beer out of a plastic cup and smoking a cigar, was hosting a belching contest: "Okay, hairy lummoxes of men and you too Berelain. Let's hear some good belches." When all was said, er, belched and done, the winner was Berelain: "I'd like to thank the Academy, and my parents, and most of all The Great Lord of the Dark, who I couldn't have won without." A crowd had gathered around Bela. Cloud, Mandarb, Red, and Stepper were all fighting each other to get to dance with Bela. Bela waved her hoof around and said, "You first, Mandarb. But, trust me, I'll get to everybody in one way or another." Bela blinked at them. Insert as many gratuitous empiesses as you want. The End *********** * ENTRY 2 * *********** Author: HRM Karl Johann, Fungi Rex (k-j-nore@dsv.su.se) ************************ * SECOND PRIZE * * Sir Empiess Memorial * ************************ No ladies present? No priest present? You have been warned... The Bela mare from Emond's Field From her loss of Tam did grieve But she got help When with a "Yelp!" She forced Mandarb's blade to yield *********** * ENTRY 3 * *********** Author: Baron Michael Sabia (sabia@romulus.rutgers.edu) ************************ ************************ * FIRST PRIZE * * SECOND PRIZE * * Most Novel Entry * * Most Exciting Entry * ************************ ************************ Bela in LoC: In the quiet night, as the stars shone bright, the chirping of crickets sent ripples down my skin. The need began to fill me, and the strain of holding myself together began to take its toll. Looking quickly around (and emitting a neigh to calm the smelly beasts around me), I turned to my liquid state, pouring myself into the feed-bag hung next to the stall. A half hour having passed, I reform myself. Neigh, not into my humble equine form, but into an equally humble, or rather an unnoticeable, human form. One single surge of rage ripples through me, goose-bumps covering my new form. Goose-bumps though, not the electric like current which flows down my skin, raising the delicate hairs on my arms and nape. Self-fullfillingly, a minor "current" flows, relieving the caustic feeling that caused the goose-bumps. The urge to rage still comes to me, even after so long, knowing I can do nothing. Ever since I learned about the bastardization of the power, the power that lets me go unseen, a listener to the universe and this world. *sigh*, the years have passed. I feel alone. Over 3 millenia, guarding this world, fulfilling my mission. Knowledge brings power, and knowledge brings pain. Sometimes I let myself fall into introspection, wondering if this ability, the knowledge has been worth it. There were sacrifices to be in mastery of those currents, but just thinking of those electric-like tinglings flow throught my body, the source of my power, helps me rise out of the introspection. The sacrifice, the pain, was worth it. But that doesn't help during the long nights, alone. Its so hard when not in a human-like form. For, when I am in another form, I am forced to take on the appearance of the female gender. Its only another balance of course, like Saidin to Saidar. To keep the practitioner in check. Checks and balances. Chuckle, ah, the power I first felt when I discovered my abilities, oh so many years ago! Yes, I suppose that I could easily have begun to feel pride, the pride that kills. Its only been because of the humiliation I always feel, that has kept me sane and has let me continue to honor the pact I made; and honor. Pride, the deadly sin, I would have easily succumbed to it, if not for the checks and balances. But I fulfill my mission, and rage DOES fill me at what has been done with this sacrosanct ability. My ability to go unseen, pass to and from without others even knowing. The shadow stole that ability from my brothers and sisters. The power to make oneself seem too "average" to notice. The Shadow stole it, using it to create the bastards of the power, the Gray Men. And yet, that is only the beginning of my power. Sometimes, I fret. Could the shadow know more than that simple trick? Could it know that there might be someone out there, passing like a shadow through civilization, counteracting his, the Dark One's, actions? Oh, I hope not, and yet I sleep at nights fretting. Especially now, when everything comes to a head. In my grey form, I leave the decrepit stable, standing dark in the starry night. The moon-less sky overhead sends uncalled for tingling through my skin. And yet, I only wait a second admiring the stars and infinity. Going about my nightly task, I go to Demira's house and listen. So hot, so hot! I know who Helina is of course. Or what she is rather. And yet I can't identify which one. She must be a forsaken, but which one? And yet I can't act. Even if I could break my vows and kill, she could just be sent back again, sent out after me, with the knowledge that I live. And work. And plot. Not to say that I haven't acted my part in this play. I distract. I can rarely do more than that for fear of the knowledge of my existence flowing back to the Dark One. And yet now, now that the Dragon has been reborn, I have had to take chances. I have let a select few know that someone is out there, working. Chuckle, how they would be surprised by who and what I really am! ha ha. Paying closer attention to the figures within, I try to see their faces. Sigh, they are turned so that I can't read their lips. Or rather Demira's. I'm not foolish enough to test what the other one can do, or see. Who knows what the forsaken can accomplish? Turning from the window and the house, I go forth again. And think. I fear I am going to have to give these blind fools more hints. To think that now, when everything hangs in balance, they still won't trust each other. I bet they haven't even told Rand about the seal. Nah, I suppose they aren't THAT foolish. Creak. Swish, bang, a pail flies past my head. Eyes wide, I swing my head around. A miasma! Quickly I hide. I can do little and the risk! And yet... quickly I hurry to the wench's house. Wench? Witch? Whatever, the house Nynaeve is in. To think she STILL hasn't broken the block! They come out wide-eyed. Hurrying inside I make sure that Moghedian isn't planning on doing anything foolish. Hiding under the bed! Oh what a great laugh! Keeping one eye on her, I look out the window to see Nynaeve joining a circle! Yes! Perhaps! Her fear should have no effect now. But then again, with her stubbornness.., sigh. She must face her fear! And yet telling her so will only destroy the possibility of her learning it herself. Being told so, she will only deny it. But behold, a foretelling. Well, this is providential! Another hint for them. Another piece for Rand to use to solve the puzzle. Of course that's assuming they tell him! When these rebels go to see Rand, I'll have my chance to put him in the right direction. After all, there is still some time. It isn't like the Dark One is trying to kill him. That's the problem with these so called Aes Sedai. Pride! To believe they know everything! I'll have to work harder. To me, the intuitive steps are so obvious. And yet at the moment I can do nothing. I set down to watch Mogihedien, and think about the other forsaken in town. What are her plans? I settle down and ponder. *********** * ENTRY 4 * *********** Author: Erica Sedai (erica@cc.gatech.edu) ************************ * THIRD PRIZE * * Most Humorous Entry * ************************ Munch munch munch munched Bela. Ahhh. Another curry. Ahhh. Time to sleep. Snore snore. This must be Tel'Aran'Rhiod. Munch munch munch munched Bela. Ahhh. Another curry. Ahhh. Time to sleep. Even in Tel'Aran'Rhiod? Why not? Snore snore. This must be Tel'Tel'Aran'Rhiod. Munch munch munch munched Bela. Ahhh. Another curry. Ahhh. Time to sleep. Even in Tel'Tel'Aran'Rhiod? Why not? Snore snore. This must be Tel'Tel'Tel'Aran'Rhiod. Munch munch munch munched Bela. Time to wake up. Time to wake up. Oh. Hi, Egwene. Time to wake up. Munch munch munch munched Bela. Ahhh. Another curry. Ahhh. Time to sleep. Snore snore. *********** * ENTRY 5 * *********** Author: Sir Hawkbite (garrett@cs.unc.edu) ************************ * HONORABLE MENTION * ************************ Where is Bela in tLoC? She's over there in the stable, horsing around with Mandarb. *********** * ENTRY 6 * *********** Author: Goodman Brad Johnson (bgjohnso@news.amherst.edu) ************************ * HONORABLE MENTION * ************************ Bela is the One who is Lost. I wish I had the energy to write that story. Bela going to the *finn and conquering them. With the fire in her eye, the iron on her hooves, her musical neigh... (But must sleep NOW) *********** * ENTRY 7 * *********** Author: The (Late) Michael Sir Empiess (ghesmiz@strauss.udel.edu) ************************ ************************ * FIRST PRIZE * * THIRD PRIZE * * Sir Empiess Memorial * * Most Exciting Entry * ************************ ************************ The Little Tower council was rehashing the same old argument. "We need money, and she can help us bring some in," Sheriam yelled for the umpteenth time, "It doesn't violate the three oaths, and she could do it for us." "But how am I supposed to be able to go anywhere if she's not around. She was my source of transportation," Siuan moaned while Sheriam snickers "So, I guess you'll just have to stick around here for a while." *** "You want to enter this nag in a horse race. You have got to be kidding." "I'll race her against any horse you got. What Bela lacks in muscle, she more than makes up in Spirit." So Racemaster puts Bela up against one of his faster horses, who Bela proceeds to keep pace with until the final stretch where she pulls ahead and beats the other horse by a length. "Your right, She is fast. But that name has got to go. I know, since she is no longer a simple farm animal, we'll call her 'The One Who Is No Longer'. Mysterious and strange enough, it'll fit." *** In the stables, The One Who Is No Longer, gets to know her new neighbors. "Hi, I'm the One Who Is No Longer, have you been here long?" she nickers. "For quite some time actually, and I see that they hung a really ridiculous name on you," replies the stallion next to her. "I'm Sir Empiess, supposedly named for some fighter from the First Age, but my real name is Mikel." The pair hit it off reasonably well, and Mikel eventually shows her the real meaning of his name. *** Bela goes through and has an amazing streak of wins, and eventually winds her up as an entrant in the Big Race, the Ebou Dar Derby. Unfortunately, some ruthless fiend has stolen the big prize, not that it was worth anything, but now they had nothing to award the winner. But the Derbymaster remembers some old stuff in his aunt's attic, and figures that something from there should do fine. *** Its the day of the race, and Nynaeve can't stop complaining. "Why did Mat have to drag us here to this. I don't care if Mat says he has dice rolling around in his head, we should be out looking for the ter'angreal." "You know that wouldn't do us any good, today. The whole city has shut down for this race, we wouldn't want to stand out," comes the standard retort from Elayne. "C'mon, this could be fun. Here come the horses now. Wait a second, that brown mare, isn't that Bela." "No it couldn't be. How did she get here," Nyneave exclaims as she yanks on her braid. "Why those Aes Sedai. Turning Bela into a race horse, and with a name like that, When I get a hold of Sheriam, I'll.." "Nyneave, relax, lets go down and stop her from making a fool of herself." But Elayne's good motives are blunted as they hear the starting horn, sending the horses around the track. Bela and Sir Empiess battle it out around the track and in a final spurt Bela beats Sir Empiess by a nose. Just as The One Who Is No Longer is brought to the Winner's Circle, Nyneave and Elayne catch up with her. Nyneave begins to ask what is going on when Elayne gasps "Nyneave, look, its the Bowl. They're giving the Bowl to Bela's rider. After all this time searching for the Bowl, it gets dropped in our lap." After a long drawn out fight, Nyneave and Elayne manage to get the Bowl from Bela's rider and make their way back to Salidar. Much to her enjoyment, Bela gets forgotten and gets to spend the rest of her days with Sir Empiess and away from those troublesome kids. *********** * ENTRY 8 * *********** Author: Erica Sedai (erica@cc.gatech.edu) ************************ ************************ * FIRST PRIZE * * SECOND PRIZE * * Most Exciting Entry * * Most Novel Entry * ************************ *********[TIE]********** The night was dark and no one was around. Bela moved cautiously as she nosed her way out of her stall. Carefully she sniffed the evening breeze but there was no recent scent of human. Good, she thought to herself, this can be quick and clean. To her practiced hooves, the stable door opened and closed quickly and she was free in the night air. No time to enjoy it though. That would have to wait for later. She had important work to be done and precious little time to do it. Keeping her eyes moving back and forth (for she could not see well directly in front of her), she moved carefully down the lane into Salidar proper. It was not hard to find the door. Her instructions had been quite clear. Bela raised a hoof, quietly striking the door three time and then moving back into the shadows. The door opened and a woman's figure emerged. "What? Who?" it said. And then the woman noticed Bela waiting in the shadows. "A horse?" the woman began. "What's a horse..." Before she could continue, Bela made the sign. The woman recognized it. It was an imperative. No one who had sworn to the Great Lord could not respond. The woman knelt before Bela. Good. Bela reached out with her muzzle to make direct contact with the kneeling woman. A series of images flashed through her mind as she delivered the orders she had been given. "That's odd" Bela thought. "This does not feel like a woman's mind...I could swear that..." But there wasn't time to ask questions and who was she to question the ways of the Great Lord. As always, Bela strained to retain some of the pictures of her message but they were like grains of sand sifting through her hooves. Something about an a'dam. An order to kill a man who could channel. A few pictures of dancing. And that was all. Bela struggled to keep as much as she might. Every clue no matter how small might help her in her quest to become the Neigh'blis. Over three thousand years of work already invested that must not be wasted by missed details. Her message delivered, Bela shook her head and turned back to the stables. There were four left, she thought. Herself, Aldieb, Pips and the new one. The one called Stayer, although in private his true name, "Slayer", was likely to slip out. Aldieb she dismissed. Ever since the Dragon had killed Aldieb's Aes Sedai (Bela snorted at the name--how could these weak pathetic girls claim such titles?) Aldieb had retreated into her other plots. She had some plans for maneuvering Mandarb into accompanying her to Shayol Ghul, but that was not likely to come to fruition. Pips was keeping close to the Dragon's Ta'veren friend "Mat". Bela remembered him from the long years spent monitoring Tam al'Thor's whereabouts. A shifty lad, ripe for the picking. A tasty treat to bring to the knees of the Great Lord, but not so sweet as that of a Child Amyrlin. "Oh Egwene, you were touched by the taint long before Fain had you in his dungeon. I saw to that. You are mine, body, mind and soul. It won't be long before you recognize that." Slayer was too new to the game to be easily valued. She'd be watching for him. He, like Bela, could apparently move bodily through Tel'Aran'Rhiod. A dangerous player. One, perhaps, who could be eliminated through nettles in his feed. Bela threw her head back at the thought. Nettles would be...an adequate solution. Six down and three to go, she thought. When Shadar Equus returned, perhaps the question of who was in the Great Lord's favor would be greatly simplified. Bela carefully let herself back into the stable, shutting the door behind her and returning to her stall. *********** * ENTRY 9 * *********** Authors: Sir Hawkbite and Det. Hohn Darlow (garrett@cs.unc.edu, donh@netcom.com) ************************ * HONORABLE MENTION * ************************ POINT: I hold to the theory (I may be the only one) that Bela was an Aes Sedai who was stilled and turned into a horse in the Aiel War. And, Elyas Machera was her warder. Like other Aes Sedai who have been changed into other creatures, she was sent off (to Master al'Vere), given a job appropriate to her new form (short rides and occasionally pulling a cart), and sent to a far away place (the Two Rivers) to hopefully survive. Fortunately for her, after a few years, she has become involved with Aes Sedai who may eventually rescue her and undo the awful changes wrought upon her. COUNTER POINT: This has one major flaw -- it is not clear that the One Power can be used to turn a human being into a different sort of animal. Perhaps sub-cellular control of DNA via very fine weavings would make this possible, but I prefer to suppose that Bela (pardon me, Bela Sedai) had the _illusion_ of being a horse imposed on her. (In which case, the race to Taren Ferry in tEotW must have been particularly exhausting for her.) Other than this one quibble, your entire theory (perhaps "hypothesis" would be a better word at this point?) makes excellent sense, especially Bela will be one of the exiled Aes Sedai recalled to the tower by Elaida. Whether she will be returned to her original form or not remains an open question, but I would bet that Elaida will assign her the task of attempting to stop the army of Salidar. But her friendship with Egwene will convince her to change sides, and she will play a pivotal role in the defeat of Elaida and the Red forces. (On the other hand, does she really want to be friends with the woman who rode her unmercifully from Emond's Field to Taren Ferry, not to mention forcing her to carry _Perrin_ half the time across the Caralain Grass?) ************ * ENTRY 10 * ************ Author: Mark the Loy (mloy@indyvax.iupui.edu) ************************ * SECOND PRIZE * * Most Humorous Entry * ************************ "Heh, Virgil...this horse we bought sure has been looking at me funny." "Funny? Fred, what the Hell you talkin' about? Oh, maybe you mean, kinda dreamy eyed like, huh? Well that's because Bertha really likes you, boy." "Bela. Her name is Bela, not Bertha." "What? Bela, Bertha, whatever...it's a horse, for light's sake. Anyway, she looks at you that way cause she wants you to give her a great big kiss on the lips...I mean she *really* likes you, Fred. But don't you give in to them impulses, boy...it ain't entirely natural" "Kiss her?! What the Hell, she's been a good ol' horse and as the miles have added up, she's been looking prettier and prettier as time goes by...come here, Bela baby, and give uncle Fred a little sugar." <SMOOCH!> <POOF!> "What the...what happened, what's all this smoke, Fred? Fred? Where are you? For the love of Pete, what in the bloody world just happened?" "Ah, that's *much* better. If you'll be quiet a minute, I'll tell you what just happened..." "What? Who the Hell are you? Where's Fred? Listen missy, I don't want no trouble, and I don't normally like to hurt a woman, but if you don't tell me right this exact second where my buddy Fred is I'll...Arrgghh...Uuggh...wait...you must be an Aes Sedai wit...Eeegh...quit it, c'mon now, stop it, put me down! Let me go you darned cu...Ahhhhrggh!" "No I won't let you down until you learn some manners. My name is Bela, but you may call me whatever you want when I'm out of sight but until then...*don't speak at all*...or else I'll turn you into a companion for Fred here." "Fred? That's not Fred...that's Bela...Er, eh, I mean that *was* Bela..." "Almost correct, I am and always will be the one and only Bela. This poor unfortunate "horse" is named Fred. And he will be my...shall we say, riding companion on my journey back to Tar Valon. Let's go, Fred. We've a long journey ahead of us and I'm anxious to get started. Goodbye, Virgil...be thankful you gave me that carrot yesterday or I'd be weaving a little Spirit, Earth, and Fire to turn you into something a little less human, although surely more appealing." "Oh no...I told Fred not to go about doing unnatural type things with that critter...I guess I should just be thankful he never got past the foreplay, then she'd *really* be pissed..." -- ===========================ERICA SADUN================================ And Sadunly, as in an uffish thought she stood, with eyes of flame. erica@cc.gatech.edu ======================================================================