Disclaimer: I don't own Mercedes Lackey. That's illegal. Nor do I own what she owns.
A/N: This is the revised version. I must admit, it's much better.
Ch 1- Sizory
I woke up this morning, and was perfectly happy- until I remembered it was my brother's birthday. Nobody ever pays attention to me on Edward's birthday, except to tell me to do something. I wore my blue dress- it's one of my least nice ones- because I guessed I'd be doing all sorts of jobs for my mother. I was right. I got set to hanging the swathes of fabric that served as bunting, while Mother and her ladies tied bunches of ribbons. The ladies' daughters were also hanging bunting, but they didn't talk to me. That was ok, but when they left without telling me, leaving me still hanging bunting by myself, I dug myself into an imaginary hole. I stayed that way pretty much all day- they came back to tie the ribbons to the bunting, and left me alone again. The hole became steadily deeper. Then I arranged more fabric on the high table in the great hall. For this one special occasion, my brother gets to sit in the middle, where my father usually sits. I kept on with the job until my mother came up to me and said
"Sizory! What are you doing? That work is for serving girls! You shouldn't be here!" She ignored my feeble protest that she'd set me to this task in the first place. "We're out of red ribbons, Sizory, you can go get some more from Master Perlin in town. I hate having to send you to a common store owner, but... everything must be absolutely perfect for dear Edward's birthday, and we just need more ribbons!" So out I went into the rain, equipped with some silver for Master Perlin. It really isn't that far to the town, but I got sopping wet anyway. And then Master Perlin treated me like royalty when I was looking and scum when he thought I wasn't. I didn't think that many people hated my family like that. I thought I treated him well enough. I walked back up the hill to the manor with my hands full of red ribbons. I reached the gate, and found the girl who watches the pigs trying to herd them out. They have a pen outside the manor grounds. Anyway, a loose dog started nipping at the pigs' heels. This provoked a stampede. Mud, pigs, and girls were everywhere. And the ribbons, of course.
"The ribbons! Oh!" I said indignantly. Mother said I should make sure to impress my status upon those lower than I am- so, here goes. "Look what you've done! Don't ever get near me again!" I suppose that would satisfy Mother, but it doesn't really feel comfortable. Somehow I feel like I should say... something else.
"Of course, milady. So sorry, milady," she murmured, head bowed. Apparently my outburst had its intended effect. She began to pick up the ribbons. She wiped them off, and offered them to me.
"Apology accepted." I took the ribbons from her, and proceeded up to the manor. Mother nearly had a fit when I arrived.
"Look at you, Sizory! You're filthy! Go upstairs and change this minute! I won't have my daughter looking like a beggar on my son's birthday!"
"Yes, mother," I said deferentially. Of course. My brother, Edward, takes precedence, no matter what. He is the heir, after all. Even if he's only six. I hate how people treat me when I'm around him! Just because I'm a girl doesn't mean I can't do anything! There are some things I'd never want to do, but... it's so unfair!
I changed, and returned to the great hall for the celebration. The food was good, but I couldn't eat any. I was still thinking about the pig girl. The way she'd acted- it was like Master Perlin. I don't like being hated, but there's nothing I can do about it. Besides, I never enjoy Edward's birthday feast. I always feel like I've become invisible.
After the feast, I wandered upstairs to my room, depressed. Not only had it rained, I'd run into the pig girl, which was still confusing me, and my thirteenth birthday, my coming-of-age birthday, would fall just when everyone was tired from my brother's celebration. I wouldn't get a party half the size of his. I tried to lose myself in a book, but it didn't work. I glanced out the window, and saw a white blob approaching the manor. Who could be coming who wasn't here already? (The whole family shows up for Edward's birthday, every single year. Of course, they're gone by the time mine comes around.) The blob was moving at about horse-speed. My family's not rich enough that you can see details out of our glass- it's bubbly. We're lords of a fiefdom under Lord Ashkevron. Wait a minute- a white horse? What was a Herald doing all the way up here? One had come through just last week! I raced downstairs, problems forgotten in my eagerness to hear the news. I emerged into the courtyard, and saw the Companion standing there. The Herald was not to be seen, though. She approached me, and I had time for the thought --What? She's not Choosing?-- before I fell into the blue eyes.
:I am Mirell, and I Choose you, Sizory.: I felt- loved. For once, I mattered to someone. Really mattered. A sapphire sea of love, comfort, and warmth enveloped me. Amazing. My arms found their way around her neck, and I blissfully ignored the courtyard around me for an irrelevant period of time.
:Come on, Chosen, let's head for Haven.: Mirell Mindspoke me. :I'm anxious to show you off!:
"If either of us is showing the other off, I'm not the one worth looking at!" I replied as the road blurred under Mirell's silver hooves.