Years ago, in the second fight against the Empire, the Heralds and their Companions lost the war for Valdemar. The Empire hunted down every last one of them, and a horrible slaughter was committed. It is said, that if you listen hard, you can still hear the cry of the last Companion as she feel in vain for her beloved Herald and Valdemar. On that day, the Gods wept. They mourned those lost to the world they ruled over and loved. In their arms they held them; cradling them and relieving them of the pain of those horrible deaths, until a time when they would be ready to return. Now is that time.

Lian set the little girl in his arms back on the floor by her mother's feet. She smiled shakily up at him, holding her right hand close to her body. He patted her brown curls before saying in a slightly reprimanding voice, "Do you promise not to play on those wood piles again? I don't think I'll fix any more nasty splinters like that if you do." She nodded her head quickly at him.

His eyes turned to the little girl's mother. She looked apologetic as she thanked him. "I'm sorry I had to trouble you again, Lian. She just can't seem to stay out of trouble. I never had any problems with her brother, but she seems intent upon hurting herself in any way she can."

He smiled at her. "Don't worry; it is my job after all. Without little girls like her I would have no one to heal!" He tweaked the girl on the nose as she giggled. Turning back to the mother he handed her a small jar. "This is an ointment that you need to rub on two times a day: once in the morning, once in the evening. Make sure the wound is clean before you put it on."

The woman nodded, taking the jar. "How long will I need to use it?"

"Until it's completely healed. If you have any left over just keep it for the next time." He smiled slightly as she sighed in exasperation and ushered the small girl out of the house and onto the road.

He stared after them as they walked the short distance to the small town. Turning back to the front room of his house he used for treatments and Healing he began to clean up the small mess. As the only Healer in the small town he was visited quite often for minor injuries like the one he just treated. However, in fall and winter he began seeing less of the minor injuries and more of the serious ones caused by harvesting accidents and diseases that thrived within the close confines of the people in winter. And that was what he loved.

He never Healed any minor injuries or sicknesses simply because it was a waste of energy. And whenever he even thought about doing so a nagging voice sounded in his head. It was that of his old teacher. She had always pounded it into his head that it was wrong to waste energy on things that would heal fine with a bit of time. So fall and winter were his favorite times of year. He was able to use the Healing powers he was Gifted with much more frequently.

Not that he wished the people of his town to be injured. No, he just reveled in the ability and the experience of Healing them. It had always been his passion.

He placed the towels he used in a special basket designated for things he needed to wash thoroughly and he placed the special cloth used for bandages in a drawer. He then grabbed a rag and began to wipe down the table. His teacher's voice rang through his head again, 'Clean everything thoroughly after each patient and before the next. No two patients should ever have to touch something a previous patient had before it is washed. Keep your work area clean, and you keep it healthy.' He turned and threw the dirty rag into the basket before retreating further into his house.

Behind the table and opposite the door leading out of the house was another door that led into his sitting room. The fireplace lay cold and the windows were thrown open, allowing the cooling summer breeze sweep through the house. On the left lay a doorway into the kitchen and the right into the bedroom. Lian went to his chair by the window and was about to continue reading the book he had abandoned when he saw a flash of white out of the corner of his eye.

Setting the book back down, he peered out of the window. His eyes widened in shock. Outside his window and a little over one hundred feet away stood a white horse. It stood completely still in a field, not noticing the noisy town not so far away. It was staring straight at his house. He slowing backed from the window, not wanting to take his eyes off of it in case it disappeared.

From this distance Lian was almost positive it was completely white. He wasn't sure if it had blue eyes, but he raced out of his sitting room and into the front room, searching for a rope. If the horse indeed had blue eyes, and the Empire found out he had let an Undesirable get away he would be in huge trouble.

The Empire took seriously anyone owning an Undesirable without turning it in or anyone who had seen one and let it get away. The person in question would be killed, along with the horse if it was ever found. Imperial Law said any Undesirables, or Heathen Horse look-alikes, must be turned into the proper authorities to be killed. They showed no mercy when it came to this law.

Finding a rope, Lian ran out of the house and towards the horse. When he was within twenty feet he slowed down. He did not wish to startle the thing into running; but it stayed completely still, the only movement being that of its head as it followed his progress towards it.

As he got closer and closer, he realized the thing did indeed have blue eyes. He looked the horse over more and began to wish it was any other color besides white. She, for he had determined it was a she by a quick duck of his head, was a beautiful horse. He had never seen any horse as wonderful as this one. Her body was sleek and obviously built for speed. As he circled her he felt drawn to reach out and touch her. He could practically feel how soft she would be if he did so; but he stopped himself before he did.

Instead he moved to stand on her right, slowly maneuvering the rope so he could slip it around her neck. However, before he could do so his eyes flickered to the blue ones staring at him.

And he was lost in a sea of ice blue and warmth that filled his whole being.

A/N: This is my first Mercedes Lackey fanfiction. I'm surprised it has taken me so long to write one. : P Mercedes Lackey is my favorite author and I've actually had this idea for a story for a while now. I hope you all like it. Please review and tell me what you think of it. Feel free to point out any mistakes or ask questions about what is happening if you do not get something. In fact, I hope you do both! It will help me make this a better reading experience for everyone. Thank you for reading and again, please review!
Kindali