Opening Words

This is a rework of my previous Valdemar fanfiction attempt. It will have differences and some similarities and I am of the opinion it will be far superior. Not that it is particularly difficult for that. By rework which is a rather loose way to describe this because of the differences in it I will not be a frequent updater due to the demands of my second last year of schooling. I will do my best to update often enough and finish this story. I would appreciate feedback, but I won't be the type to hold back chapters just to spite anyone that reads it but doesn't review. This is written more to feed my love of the Valdemar series, than for anyone else so if things go too smoothly...that means I'm in a happy ending mood.


Diplomacy. It was a testament to the amount of luck that had been with the young Herald that diplomacy had not failed. A junior Herald, one so new to her whites had been given the task of negotiating with Hardorn, she had succeeded. Ahalya was thankful to make it back to Valdemar, alive. Vansyr was dozing as despite the stiffness of her body brushed him, combed his mane and tail with care. Fondly she stroked his sleek muscled neck, admiring the elegance of her Companion. Lazily he opened his eyes and spoke. .:: Dearest, go and soothe you aching muscles in a hot bath. You deserve it, darling.::.

Ahalya felt a rush of gratitude towards Vansyr, now her aches and pains had became even more noticeable and the thought of hot water pushing them away, and being clean after days of hard riding- blissful. She let out a low moan as she stretched out, wincing as she placed the brushes down. .::Thank you, I will make it up to you. I promise. ::. She replied to her other half, her dearest Companion who simply nodded.

Half-asleep she stumbled out from the stall, she let instinct guide her in where to walk- it wouldn't surprise her if she found herself at the wrong end, but she found she could not let that bother her, she was just ready to sleep. Firstly. Yes, she had to bathe, get rid of the dust of the road and the stale sweat that was ingrained into her skin and clothes.

She had already began to strip by the time her bath had been ready for her to enter. As soon as she slipped beneath the water, she let out a sigh of pleasure. This was wonderful.

Spluttering. Coughing. Aware that strong arms had gripped her shoulders and pulled her out of the watery depths of her bath was her first thoughts, then she realised that she had fallen asleep. Dragging air into her lungs greedily she realised that she could have drowned- she could now hear the anguish of Vansyr, he had tried and failed to waken her. With the aid of her saviour she found herself standing shakily.

A towel was wrapped around her and it was then she focused in on the woman who had saved her. Acute embarrassment spread when she saw that her saviour had been a man. A handsome face was full of concern, his hair tousled as if he had jumped from his bed- this was confirmed when she noted his chest was bare.

"Your Companion reached through to me, my rooms are the nearest and I have strong Mindspeech. Are you feeling okay? That was a close call." His voice was warm, full of the same concern written on his face but Ahalya was struggling to answer. This man had saw her naked, his rough calloused hands had touched her and she was standing before him with only a towel hiding her dripping wet form from him- if only the ground would swallow her up now.

"My exhaustion got the better of me. My Companion and I were on the roads for days. Thank you, Herald..." Ahalya responded hoping she would get the chance to dress soon, it was uncomfortable being under his gaze when he didn't seem to even notice that she was naked underneath the towel.

"Caelum, at your service." He answered. "Now, what is the name that I may at last know?"

Ahalya knew the name felt strangely familiar but from where she didn't know. "My name is Ahalya. Thanks, you saved my life and my name from eternal embarrassment. " Although she didn't feel even vaguely humourous she still added that one part of self-depreciating humour into her sentence. "Although if someone enters we might be in a awkward situation."

He caught her hint and chuckled. "There could be far worse things to happen, for me anyway. Being in the room with a beautiful woman in a towel is certainly not a bad thing in my opinion. I will leave you but I insist that you join me tomorrow for drinks at the Blue-Swillet Tavern." His gray-green eyes were warm as he spoke to her, beginning already to sidle out of the bathing rooms.

"Okay. "

He left and for a few minutes she stood with a towel wrapped around her with a half-smile on her face, it seems nearly drowning had benefited her. Thankful that although she had been in Hardorn and securing their help for the very likely war that another Herald had already returned with the full details of their alliance-she didn't need to report immediately.

Ahalya had remained for a further week, the King was always eager to see one of his many family members. The great-niece of the Hardornen King, Ahalya was the daughter of his favoured niece who had eloped with a Valdemaran Guardsman. Great-uncle Karauthon had of course listened to his love-struck niece and gave his blessing- nothing had became of it. She guessed that it had also helped that her father had been Valdemaran nobility.

Thankfully it had never been a huge scandal, few people actually knew of it. Clearly, some in the Heraldic Circle had known and had chosen her specifically for the negotiations, despite her feeling of success she knew it had been practically guaranteed that Hardorn would aid Valdemar if it was Ahalya representing them. She was one of the many Princesses of the Country, she had renounced any claim upon becoming a Herald but that was only in Valdemar. Her Great-uncle would never recognise the fact that the only title she would hold was Herald.

.:: Dearest, you are standing,dripping wet and in only a towel. ::. Vansyr interjected, interrupting her thoughts and Ahalya realised he was right. .:: You also neglected to bring clean clothes to change into, no worries. Jisah told her Chosen and he is walking up right now with a tunic and leggings set. Such a thoughtful mare she is. ::. He commentated and Ahalya giggled at the admiration in his voice.

.:: Someone has an infatuation. ::. The auburn haired young woman teased her Companion lightly. She ensured the towel was covering her as she saw the dark haired Herald Caelum enter with the clothes draped over his arms. He had pulled on a tunic and his hair looked less tousled.

"The clothes as promised," he grinned as he handed them to her and vacated the bathing room promptly. "I'll see you tomorrow, Ahalya." He shouted over his shoulder.

Ahalya dressed quickly and realised that the clothes swamped her far smaller form, Herald Caelum was a tall and broad-shouldered man, Ahalya was small and petite. The tunic hung off her shoulder at one side, she also looked vaguely like a child swamped in the too large clothes. Watching the water drain out she gathered up her dirty clothing and left, hurrying to her rooms.

Her rooms weren't empty. Kestren looking markedly older since she had last seen him was seated in her small sitting room, his legs propped up on a low wooden table that had been a gift from the same man. The older Herald looked up at her with a kind smile and swiftly removed his feet from the table. "It is good to see you, dear." He told her warmly, she could see in his face that the sentiment was genuine, not that she had doubted it.

"Glad to see you too, Kestren. I've missed you." She informed the older man as she leaned forwards and kissed his cheek. "Great-aunt Nitta spent most of the week in Hardorn trying to set me up with young noblemen, she doesn't seem to understand that I'm a Herald." Ahalya shook her head as she stopped at her room and dumped her pile of clothes on the floor- she would deal with them later. " I almost drowned myself falling asleep in the bath. Vansyr came to me rescue by alerting the nearest Herald."

The King's Own Herald shook his head. "Thank the Havens that he was awake." He replied, frowning momentarily. "Take more care, Ahalya. Well done on your success in Hardorn."

Ahalya rolled her eyes. "It was guaranteed as soon as I was assigned. Great-uncle favours mother and I." She informed him. You knew that when it was decided I would be the Herald leading the foray into Hardorn."

Kestren sighed, a brief flash of guilt appeared on his face. Ahalya had been used for precisely that reason, not that she lacked the ability to have not been successful without her blood ties to the King, it had simply been guaranteed because of her ties to the King. He did not deign to answer her slightly accusing words. He stood from where he was seated, glanced at her and noticing the tiredness in her eyes. "I will let you get to bed, sleep well." He murmured as he strode out of her rooms.