Only Gods Can Change Stone
Prologue
Joren of Stone Mountain took a deep breath, and stepped deliberately into the Chamber of Ordeal. He silently took in the room of cold steel. When he turned to look, the door was gone. He backed up to a wall and faced the room, thinking, Is this all? Is this the best it can do? From the expressions on the faces of the squires who had gone in before him, he had expected something more intimidating.
Hours later, he was of a different opinion. He felt as though he was going mad; mad from the silence, from the seeing-without-light, from the cold metal walls, which seemed to be laughing. Then a voice, as ancient as the earth, spoke inside his mind: Foolish boy. Haven't you learned yet, that sometimes the most frightening thing is the inside of your own mind? The voice skinned him alive: it peeled back layer after layer of flesh, until his soul was exposed, with all its flaws and imperfections. The Chamber saw them, and so did Joren. This voice was never meant for human ears, and Joren screamed; you weren't supposed to make noise in the Chamber of Ordeal. It was far too late for Joren. His family never even had a body to mourn over.
Chapter One
He was walking down a long dark tunnel, towards the light at the end. He couldn't remember how he got here, or why, but he knew instinctively that when he reached the light he would be content, at peace. But something was tugging from behind. Something tying him to the land of the living, some unfinished task. He turned around reluctantly, and allowed the rope to pull him back. As he floated down through the layers of the firmament, he remembered who he was, and wondered what unfinished business he had on earth. He wasn't in control of where he was going; he was guided along like a puppet on strings. Only, puppets at least had bodies. Joren didn't.
It was winter in Tortall. Throughout the journey Joren contemplated the fact that he was dead. He would never see his friends and family again, until they came to the peaceful realms. He would never again feel the exhilaration of winning a sword fight, or the breathless mix of fear and freedom that came when he had 'flying lessons' with his knight master. He would never insult the Lump again, never hear her say, 'I fell down,' to the stump, her face completely emotionless. Wait, what? Since when does that count as something I'll miss?
But he couldn't ponder this further, because even as the thought occurred to him, he found himself approaching a fort of some sort. Then he saw the crossed-glaives-and-owl flag flying high, and the tall figure on the wall, with the wind blowing through her short hair. Uh oh. Confirming his fears, he seemed to slow as he neared the Lump. Then, just a few feet away, he stopped completely. Double uh oh.
Keladry of Mindelan, or Lump, as he preferred to call her, seemed different from the last time he had seen her; older, taller, and less carefree. It made him wonder exactly how long he'd been dead. Currently she was peering through a telescope at an approaching group of riders. Several sparrows flew up and circled, the signal for 'friends,' if he wasn't mistaken. That blasted dog Jump ran excitedly around her feet. He'd acquired several new scars since Joren had seen him last. Kel raised her head from the glass and smiled. Apparently the visitors were welcome. "Neal!" she shouted over her shoulder, "Your cousin's here with the Third Company!" The third company of the Own? And where was 'here' exactly? He glanced down from the wall to see The Lump's long time friend Nealan of Queenscove glaring up at her. Joren could hear him muttering, "Well, at least I'm still Neal. Minute Dom gets here, it's gonna be Meathead, Meathead, Meathead. Or worse, Nealan!" Neal, (or Meathead, if you prefer,) shuddered theatrically. Joren was considering the name 'Meathead' from all angles. It suited Queenscove. Apparently being a ghost had improved Joren's hearing.
He wondered, out of all the people he could have been sent to watch, why he had been sent to Kel. The Yamani Lump, his worst enemy. He realized with a shock, that she must be a knight now! She had made it! Despite everything he could do, Keladry of Mindelan had become a knight. And Joren had failed. For the first time, he wondered if there was a reason for that. If perhaps he had been wrong about Lady Knights all along. It wasn't a pleasant thought.
She turned sharply and headed down to meet the Third Company, and Joren was dragged along like a good little dog on a leash. "Dom!" she cried, and smiled, instantly looking as young as she had when Joren died. He was stunned to see The Lump showing so much emotion. Blue eyes and white teeth flashed as a handsome man resembling Meathead enfolded Kel in his arms. This must be Dom.
"Hey Mother, how come I don't get a hug?" Joren grinned in spite of himself as a cheerful looking man with craggy features (AN: I don't remember what Wolset looks like. Sorry!) gave Kel a pouting look. Kel laughed and said "Shut up Wolset." But she hugged him too, and before long the entire Third Company was lined up for hugs. Or at least until Neal said, "What about me?" Then they all went quiet. The Lump looked her most Lumpish, and Joren could tell that she was trying not to laugh. She cleared her throat. "Well, Tobe will take your horses; let me show you to where you'll be staying." As one, the men said, "Yes Mother." It was too much. Kel lost control and laughed.
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AN: So what do you think? Review and tell me! Constructive criticism is welcome! It's my first fanfic, so don't go easy on me, be honest. Let me know whether or not I should be banished from the land of FanFiction forever. Also, I'm looking for a beta!