THE CHARACTERS AND SETTINGS BELONG TO THE MASTER OF VALDEMAR, MERCEDES LACKEY. HENCE, THE REASON THIS IS CALLED FANFICTION. I OWN NOTHING! PLEASE ENJOY.

THIS OCCURS RIGHT AFTER MAGIC 'S PRICE. WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD HERALD-MAGE VANYEL ASHKEVERON HAD SURVIVED HIS FINAL STRIKE IN THE LAST BATTLE. PLEASE R&R. KEEP IN MIND; THIS IS MY VERY FIRST FANFIC! HOPE YOU LIKE.

Chapter One

"Vanyel!"

Terrible pain—then nothing. A void where warmth should be.

Bard Stefen jerked abruptly awake and leapt to his feet, sweat streaming down his face, his eyes wild. Had he just felt Van die? No, it was not possible. Van could not be dead. Tears running down his face, Stefen rushed out the door, headless of the snow and saddled Melody, his movements frantic. When he finally got the damned harness right, he mounted and spurred Melody into a frantic run, leaving the guards and sentries to follow as they would.

When he got to the place where Vanyel had made his final stand, he looked around at the destruction in horror. He could not see how anything could have survived this? Guards and sentries stopped him as they approached the charred battlefield and dismounted.

"Please, I have to see… I have to know," Stefen stuttered, tears in his eyes. The guards looked at him with sympathy. They nodded and allowed him to pass.

Stefen approached the center of destruction with something like dread. He looked around frantically. But there was nothing there. No trace of white that would reveal the location of the Herald, or his Companion. Crying silently, Stefen bowed his head in defeat.

"Would you give up on me so quickly, ke'chara?" A weak voice murmured, barely audible. Stefen and several guardsmen whirled around. Then they saw him almost buried beneath a rather large fallen tree.

"Van!" Stefen called, rushing over to kneel beside him. Van's face was bruised and his eyes were swollen shut. Stefen very carefully touched the battered face.

"Van? Ashke, can you look at me?" he asked in concern. The guards surveyed the tree, trying to decide how to get it off the Herald without killing him.

Van struggled to open his eyes a tiny bit. "Broken, ke'chara. Take me home," he said softly, his eyes closing again.

"Don't worry Van, we will get you home. Just don't die on me," Stefen said urgently. Van's lips twitched slightly.

"No worries. Not allowed to die," he mumbled, drifting into unconsciousness. One of the guards touched Stefen's shoulder.

"Bard, we found the Herald's Companion, Yfandes. I am afraid she is dead. She was crushed by another fallen tree."

Tears filled Stefen's eyes again. "Gods help her," he murmured softly. "We've got to get him out of here," he said, wiping his eyes. The guards nodded and began to dig the Herald out. When they finally got him out from under the tree, they saw that Vanyel had been correct when he said he was broken. His body looked absolutely crushed. The Healer's did their best to bind the wounds.

They gently placed the Herald in a wagon, and Stefen climbed in with him and the Healer that would accompany them back to Haven. They began the long journey home.

Just as they reached the outskirts of the city, Vanyel opened his eyes slightly and looked at Stefen.

"Stef, I must see Randi," he mumbled.

"When you are better, ashke," Stef said, holding his hand. Van briefly jerked his hand away.

"No. Can cure him Stef. Please, I must," he whispered, losing consciousness again. Stefen exchanged a startled look with the Healer. What if he really could heal the king? It would mean so much to Valdemar. Stefen looked into the face of his lover. The bruises had turned some spectacular colors, but the swelling had gone down some. Stefen gently touched his cheek.

"If anyone could cause such a miracle, it would be you, ashke," Stefen murmured softly to the sleeping Herald-Mage.