A Companion's Story

She had never been more nervous; not in her previous life, and not in this one. The Powers had told her that she was to help someone who was going to be important. She knew, from talking to ones who had gone before, that it was a very, very special assignment, and she was shaking in her...well, she didn't wear shoes anymore.

She paced slowly forward, the silver bells braided into her mane and tail twinkling merrily and her hooves muffled as they set down in the dirt. She was hoping for a boy...for another chance to...she immediately stopped that thought. Her life had served a purpose, and her choices had provided their world with a powerful defender. It didn't stop her from feeling the crushing sadness of it all, though.

As she passed a small group of children something pulled her attention to the one standing in the middle. Slight, dark hair framing pale blue eyes and an angular face, he was perhaps ten. He seemed to be getting ready to be in the middle of an altercation when his eyes rose and met hers.

Oneness, a sense of becoming whole. The world fell away until all she could see was his eyes boring into hers. What's more, all her doubts fell away in the face of his need to be reassured and comforted. He was afraid, and oh so lonely.

"It's ok, child. I Choose you. My name is Tera, and you will never be alone again."

The boy walked, trance-like, up to her and she let her head down so that they were eye to eye. "My name is Rolan, Lady. I'm nobody special; I think you have made a mistake."

She nickered at him softly and nudged him toward her saddle with her nose. "Companions don't make mistakes, child. Not when we Choose. Now hurry up and get up here before those other boys decide to come after whatever it is you took."

Startled at her perception as much as by the fact that she wasn't berating him for doing something immoral, he complied. "I don't know much about riding horses, Lady."

She shook her head and laughed in his. "I'm not a horse, child, and would you stop calling me Lady? I told you my name, did I not?"

"Aye, and I told you mine, but you still call me child."

She started to move briskly back toward the city and laughed to herself. This child would be an interesting one to be around.

§ § §

As they approached Haven, Rolan spoke up again. "Where are we going?"

"To the palace. We have to meet with a special lady who will help you get settled."

"Why are people so happy to see us? I don't know any of them." The poor child sounded genuinely confused.

"Well, the Choosing of a new Herald is always a cause for celebration. There aren't that many around, you know."

"I thought they were everywhere. They seem to be, anyway."

"No, that's just how we make all this work. People have to think that there's always a Herald around the corner. It helps them feel safe and less like causing trouble."

He thought about that for a minute, putting far more actual thought into it than she would have expected from someone his age. "I can see how that would be true. I know at home people don't really expect to see Heralds very often, so they tend to be more...aggressive in their dealings with other people."

Startled by his grasp of the situation, she almost missed the man standing at the gate. It was his gentle hand on her reins that brought her back to her senses.

"Tera, right?" The guard didn't seem to find it odd that he was speaking to a horse, but then, he was stationed at the palace. "She's waiting for you at the stable. Go on and don't keep her waiting."

She rubbed her nose on his arm for a second before moving on, setting a newly brisk pace toward a lovely building set against a rolling green backdrop.

Standing in front of the building was a small woman with grey-streaked hair and a very odd uniform. It seemed to be a cross between a priestess's robes and a set of Herald's whites.

"Well hello, young one, we've been waiting for you for some time now."

He blanched at the thought of strangers waiting for him, and started to splutter an apology, but she interrupted him.

"No worries, young man. You just slide off of Tera and let me get you situated. You'll be back with her again before you know it."

"Um...did you just read my mind?" He asked as he did as she instructed.

She had a beautiful laugh. "No, I just have done this a time or two. My name's Talia."

"I...I'm Rolan."

Eyebrows raised clear into her hairline, she smiled slowly. "Is that right?"

"Yes, ma'am. I was named after...somebody important, but I can't remember who."

Her smile grew a little wider and she got a mischievous look in her eyes as a muscled companion came to stand behind her and laid his head on her shoulder; staring straight at the boy. "This is the Queen's Own Companion; MY companion. His name is Rolan and he has been around a very long time."

"H...hello?" He squeaked.

The very large companion paced solemnly forward and nudged the boy in the chest, knocking him back against Tera and making Talia laugh. "He's just teasing you, child. He wouldn't hurt you for the world."

Not sure he was comforted by the thought, he simply stood there and waited for more instruction.

She smiled again, and ushered him away from the stable, Tera pacing behind him.

Suddenly, another companion, with a grey-clad rider came to a thundering stop in front of the little party.

"This the new recruit?" A husky voice asked.

"Yes, Kero, this is him."

Rolan completely missed the exchange, though, because something was happening between the new companion and Tera. He didn't know if he needed to be afraid, or warn Talia, but he knew he should keep aware.

"Hello, Treesa."

"Gods, Savil?! How did you know it was me?"

The strange companion made a noise that just HAD to be a laugh. "Van told me, of course.